Florence R. Federico

FLORENCE R. FEDERICO (nee Grand) age 93, beloved wife for 70 years of the late Joseph; loving mother of Joseph A. (deceased), Susan (partner Gayle Wieand), Thomas (wife Rev. Debra), and Annette Federico (husband Charles Dotas); devoted grandmother of Lauren Federico (husband Sean Murphy), Matthew and Tyler and great-grandmother of Miles Patrick Murphy; cherished daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (nee Grassie) Grand; dearest sister of the late Frank Grand (wife Edith, deceased), Beatrice Herasuta (husband Michael, deceased) and Michael Grand (wife Frances, deceased); dear aunt and great-aunt of many. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Florence to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Florence was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 24, 1925, and passed away on August 22, 2019, one month before her 94th birthday. She spent the first years of her life in Collinwood, and lived in South Euclid for the rest. The house she and her husband, Joe, shared for nearly 60 years was a beacon of hospitality for family and friends, the center for holidays, birthdays, and celebrations of every description. Flo’s life was her family, and Flo’s kitchen was always open, whether for “drinks and nibbles” or fabulous Italian meals. She was a gregarious woman who loved bridge and several varieties of rummy; she really liked to compete – and to win. When the kids no longer needed her undivided attention, Flo took up golf and made many new friends. She followed the Cleveland Indians faithfully for countless seasons, in what can only be called a love-hate relationship. She was a political junkie and progressive in her thinking to the end of her life. Strong-minded, frank, practical, and forward-looking, Florence was a very caring person, open-handed, warm, and sympathetic. She was uniquely endearing to everyone who knew her. She was never fake, never phony or pretentious––she was, inimitably, Flo.

Cremation by DeJohn Crematory. Graveside Service Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 11 AM at Lake View Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Florence at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just east of Green Rd.) FRIDAY from 4-8 PM.