The Rev. Denise Healy, Deacon

The Rev. Denise Healy (Deacon Denise or Denise) was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on June 29, 1991 along with 9 others in the Diocese of Southwest Florida. Deacon Denise completed her training for ministry in the Diocese of Hawaii where she also attended the University of Hawaii. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from UH and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Denise also has a BA in Psychology from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. She was born and raised in Baltimore. Sorry Rays fans, she is a lifelong Orioles fan. Denise left Baltimore in 1983.

​Denise and her husband, Tom, who died in June of 2001, moved to Plant City and became members of St. Peter’s in 1990. St. Peter’s became her presenting parish for ordination. She served as deacon at St. Peter’s for 2 years before leaving to serve at Holy Innocents’ in Valrico. From Holy Innocents’ she went to St. Catherine’s and served for a short time only to return to Holy Innocents’ several years later. Deacon Denise was pleased to have the opportunity to return to St. Peter’s after many years. 

​Denise worked for Lifepath Hospice and Gulfside Regional Hospice for more than 16 years. She continues to work part time as a social worker for MSA Home Health where she makes home visits to assist patients with community resources and counseling.

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The Rev. Dr. John Santosuosso, Deacon Emeritus

John was Professor of Political Science at Florida Southern College.  He holds the M.Div. degree from the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and the Ph.D. from the University of Florida.  John loves to teach Bible.  He is married to his wonderful, beautiful, spouse Janet, and lives with her and his faithful dog Leo in Lakeland.

Helen Jones, Director of Music Ministries

​Helen began piano lessons at age five and has been accompanying glee clubs or choirs since fifth grade.  Her love for accompanying singers or choirs, and playing piano and organ in many different churches, enabled her to become comfortable receiving many last minute calls to substitute for another musician or play for weddings around town. 

 Helen is a native of  Greensboro, North Carolina where she began piano at Moore Music Company, then moved to Greensboro College at age nine and continued there, graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, piano applied.  She studied piano with Dr. David Pinnix and organ with Dr. Harold Andrews.  She accompanied four senior voice recitals and accompanied the men’s glee club while there.

She served as assistant organist/choir director at her home church in Greensboro until accepting a position at St. Puis X Catholic church, where she served as organist/choir master until she and her husband moved to Baltimore, Maryland.  During the next six years, Helen enjoyed one of her favorite positions, serving as organist at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cockeysville.  Their next move was to Roswell, Georgia, where she served as organist at another large catholic church, Church of St. Ann, in Marietta.  In 1996 the Jones family moved once again, this time to Lakeland, Florida.  Helen chose to not take a full time music position, but has played a service or mass at several churches each weekend.  She still plays the Vigil Mass at Church of the Resurrection, and has been interim organist at St. Joseph’s and St. John Neumann parishes, as well as here at St. Peter’s.

 Helen worked with the Federal Government for 35 years, the majority of which were with the Social Security Administration.  Planning to retire from SSA in January 2014, she joined the staff at St. Peter’s in May 2013.  She has brought a new dynamic to the Eucharistic services and LOVES her job, working with the choir, bell choir, and the parishioners here at St. Peter’s. 

 Helen and her husband, Steve, have been married 36 years and have three children, Matthew (Lakeland), AJ (Tampa), and Lisa (Greensboro).

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Sarah Dean, Parish Administrator

Sarah is a native of Plant City and resides on the property her grandfather homesteaded in the 1800s. She has two daughters and two fantastic, wonderful granddaughters.

​She received her education at HB Plant High School in Tampa, and attended the University of Florida, El Camino College, and graduated from Western University in Portland, OR.

​She is a past employee of Space Technology Laboratories, Guided Missile Research Division of the Ballistic Missile Command in Los Angeles, CA, where she worked on the development of Titan I and II, Atlas, Thor and Minuteman Missile Systems. She also worked as systems coordinator for the Clerk of the Circuit Court Data Processing, Hillsborough County, FL. More recently she was employed by Kirby Soar Insurance as comptroller. She is also a licensed insurance agent.

​Sarah is delighted to have found a wonderful job as Parish Secretary for St Peter’s. It is a great experience for her.

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Tony Wilson, Sexton