Florence’s Obituary Florence D. Zateeny “At the end of our days on earth, after all our successes and failures, the measure of worth for our life will be how much we have loved”. -Mata Amritanandamayi (aka, Amma, i.e., “Mother”) And indeed, our beloved Florence lived her life loving selflessly, unconditionally and joyfully! Florence (Flo, “Flossy”) DeVivo Zateeny, of Stroudsburg, graced the world for over a century (!
) until her passing on Monday, April 29, 2019, at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Pocono in East Stroudsburg, PA. Born on September 3, 1918, in East Stroudsburg, this lifetime resident of Monroe County was a daughter of the late Samuel and Frances (Datona) DeVivo, who immigrated to America from Italy. More than half of Florence’s life was shared with her loving husband, Albert J. Zateeny, who died in 1995.
As a first generation American, Florence was a graduate of Stroudsburg High School and attended cosmetology school and Churchman’s Business School, both in Easton. She worked in the A. B. Wyckoff Department Store marketing division and for Herb’s His ‘n Her Shoppe, and she was a member of both the Stroud Community Club and the Monroe County Historical Society. From civic commitment to athleticism, Florence served as an election poll worker for many years and as a lifeguard at the Stroudsburg Borough Swimming Pool (where then, and at age 70, she could do still do one sharp jackknife).
Although these activities shape our memories of this special lady, her light shone most brightly in how she loved. As a lifetime member of The Church of St. Luke, in Stroudsburg, Flo embodied a heart of service. Her faith-in-action transcended dogma, doctrine and creed to being Light and living Love!
She was devoted and generous in all her relationships and “family” to many beyond DNA. Accompanying this energetic, gregarious woman’s high school yearbook photo and her noted extracurricular activities is a caption that could easily be viewed as one of her life’s mottos: “Push, pluck and perseverance”. In all things, Florence never gave up but persevered in unprecedented positivism!
Her glowing smile and engaging personality could brighten any experience. Florence and her husband leave behind, not a bequest of material wealth, but a legacy of the values that matter most in life. Surviving are three children, John Zateeny (Cathy) and Mimi Zateeny, both of Stroudsburg, and Maria Cory (Forrest) of Newport News, VA; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; a sister, Mimi Greeley of Manhattan, NY; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, John DeVivo and Thomas DeVivo; and two sisters, Mary Martin and Angela Cammarata. As per Florence’s wishes (humble as she always was), there will be no services, and cremation will be private. Yet, her life can be celebrated and honored in the retelling of her sweet stories and in each measure of outreach and compassion we extend to one another.
This precious spirit set the bar high, but if we push, pluck and persevere, this legacy of love will endure!
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