Mildred Roberta Canepa, 86, of Wicomico, Va., left us to be with the Lord our God on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

She was the daughter of the late Howard F. Zeliff and Beatrice Holmes Zeliff of Panama City, Fla., and was born in Myrtle, Pa. She was the loving wife of the late Noel John Canepa.

She was a strong woman and a patriot in every sense of the word. Working for the U.S. State Department during World War II as a teletype operator, she lunched regularly with Admiral Richard E. Byrd. She went on to be a long-time teletype operator for the Panama City News-Herald and the Palm Beach Post-Times newspapers. A visionary and creative genius before her time, she was loved by all.

She is survived by her daughters, Cherie A. Anderson of Panama City, Fla., Laura E. Delrio of Greenback, Tenn.; her son, Joel H. Canepa of Wicomico; her grandchildren, Robert L. Houston IV, John C. Houston, Joel H. Canepa II, Fredric W. J. Delrio, Michael N. J. Delrio, Wayne R. Canepa, Tavish A. Delrio, John N. Canepa, and Alyssa C. Bishop, as well as 17 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a future date in Panama City, where her ashes will be distributed in the Gulf of Mexico according to her wishes.

Memorial donations may be made to National Osteoporosis Foundation,1150 17th Street, N.W., Suite 850, Washington, D.C. 20036.

Andrews Funeral Home, Gloucester, was in charge of arrangements.