Dolly Florence

Eulogy written by Judy Thatcher... I want to say a few words about our Mom. She was always full of life and lived each day as though it were her last. Well, her last came on Saturday. She enjoyed being the center of attention and was, as she passed away with family surrounding her, just as she would have wanted it. Cell phone ring tones say a lot about a person. Mine is of a telephone ringing. Hers was Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World". Every time her cell phone rang, it made me smile. Let me read the words to you. I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. I see skies of blue and clouds of white The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people going by I see friends shaking hands, saying "How do you do?" They're really saying "I love you" I hear babies crying, I watch them grow They'll learn so much more than I'll ever know And I think to myself, what a wonderful world Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Oh, yeah. It is a wonderful world, not a perfect world or perfect people living in it. This makes all of us unique in our own way, and she was unique in her own way. She has friends all over the country who knew she was always ready to have fun. She never lost her sense of humor. Even through her pain and suffering we could get her to laugh or smile. The day before she died, she apologized to us for being so demanding. I was ready to say "No, you're not" but instead said "So what else is new?" We all laughed and she smiled. I do want to thank Bob for taking such good care of her. He went far beyond what most people would or could have and I said to her a few weeks ago, "At least you know Bob truly loves you." And she answered "Yeah". The last thing I want to say about our Mom comes from an e-mail she sent me back in 2004. It was so her, I had to save it. It's called, "A Good Motto to Live By." Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, what a ride." She will be sorely missed. ............................................................................................................ Inga "Dolly" Florence, of Croft Hill Road, Poughkeepsie died Saturday, June 26, 2010. She was 74. She was born in Germany, a daughter of the late Alfred and Frieda Hermann. In 1938 she immigrated to this country and settled in New York City. Her family moved to Illinois where she lived in Chicago for several years. After moving back to New York, she lived in the Bronx where she was very involved with the Jewish War Veterans and proudly served as President of the Bronx County chapter. She moved to Fishkill in 1970, later lived in the city of Poughkeepsie and has lived in LaGrange since 1984. An avid motorhome traveler, Dolly belonged to the Metropolitan chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association. Surviving are her husband Robert F. Florence Sr., two daughters; Rona "Ronnie" Rosenberg of Kingston, and Judy Thatcher and her husband Gary of Lagrange; one son Kenneth J. Rosenberg of Myrtle Beach, SC; three grandchildren, Heather White and her husband Jason of Accord, Dara Kelly and her fiance Jesse Clauson of Springfield, MA and Paul Nocket of Lagrange; three step children, Carol Barone of Lagrangeville, Robert F. Florence Jr. of Poughkeepsie and Matthew Florence of New City; three step grandchildren Genna Waller, Connor Barone and Caylea Barone; one step great grandchild Caleb Waller. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday at 12:00 at Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave., Kingston. Rabbi Yael Romer will officiate. Shiva will be observed at the residence of Ronnie Rosenberg on Wednesday till 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Temple Emanuel or a charity of your choice. Please sign the memorial guestbook at www.SimpsonGaus.com.