Florence M. Curtis, 87, of North Babylon, NY, passed away peacefully at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, NY, in the early hours of April 16, 2018. She is survived by her children, Bob, Dennis and Nancy; her grandchildren, Zach, Jessica, Michelle, Nick and Danielle; and loving nephews, in-laws and friends.
Born September 22, 1930, Florence (née Botta) grew up in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens, NY. Known for her sharp wit, she skipped a grade in school and went on to work at the publishing company Prentice Hall. Florence married her late husband, the U.S. Army veteran Frederick N. Curtis, on May 17, 1952, and welcomed their firstborn son, Robert, the following March. Florence and Fred purchased their home in North Babylon (where she lived until her death) for a mere $9,990 in October 1955, the same month as the arrival of their second son, Dennis. Their first and only daughter, Nancy, was born in August 1960.
After being a devoted housewife for more than a decade, Florence decided to return to work and became a cashier at the supermarket Pathmark in North Babylon, where she worked for 28 years until her retirement. She became a first-time grandmother in September 1989, and again in 1990, 1993, 1994 and 1995.
Florence spent her free time gardening, cooking, reading (often one book per week), watching game shows, sewing, doing crafts, mastering crossword puzzles and spending time with her family. Prior to Fred’s death in 1988, the couple enjoyed camping and vacationing around the world, traveling to places including Italy, France, Germany and the Grand Canyon.
In her final years, Florence remained a fighter as she battled various ailments, often surprising doctors with her strength and resilience. Through it all, she fought for what she believed in and frequently quoted a line from her favorite Frank Sinatra song: “I did it my way.”
Join us in remembering Florence’s remarkable life at Claude R. Boyd—Spencer Funeral Home at 448 West Main Street in Babylon, NY, on Thursday, April 19, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Burial at Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, NY, on Friday, April 20, at 12 p.m.
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