Florence Madeline Downey, 73, of Melbourne, Florida joined the angels in heaven early Monday morning, July 3rd, peacefully in her home.

Born in Montvale, NJ, to Mildred Hafemann and Arthur North, Flo later graduated from Westwood, NJ High school, and attended Aladdin Business College before marrying George Anthony Downey on November 16th, 1963. Flo served as a dedicated member of Ascension Catholic Church where she devoted years to bringing love and joy to the church community. After working as office manager in the church office for 25 years, she continued to share her legacy with the parish singing in the choir and maintaining the beautiful and numerous relationships she built over the years. She will always be remembered as someone who brought light and contentment to the lives of everyone she met.

She had a special love for nature and chose to spend her free time tending her magnificent gardens alongside her Great Dane, Dachshund, three Maine Coon cats, and rabbit. Her tenderness and compassion for all beings didn’t stop with just people. Flo truly cared for the well-being of all, diligently doing anything she could to make the world brighter for everyone. When she wasn’t outside, you could often find her trying new recipes to share with her family, starting a new art project, or making care packages for her loved ones - anything to exercise her vibrant creativity. She expressed a zeal for life in all that she did. Flo was an avid baker, gardener, and fashionista, who lived a life painted by the most vivacious hues of love and happiness. Her memory is adorned with the orchids and roses she so deeply loved as symbols of her spirit’s perseverance and eternal love that is forever rooted in our hearts.

Flo was preceded in death by her youngest son Christopher and is survived by her husband George of 54 years, her children Michael (Maureen), George (Noel), and Kevin (Brenda). She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Rachel, April, Carly, George, and Gabrielle. She would have been a great-grandmother this coming September. Flo will always be remembered with love as the best of wives, mothers, and grandmothers.

A service will be held on Thursday, July 13th, at 10:30am at Ascension Catholic Church as a celebration of the inspiring life Flo lived. Flowers are welcome at the church or you may make
a donation in Flo’s name to the Cancer Care Centers Foundation or Ascension Catholic Social Concerns.