Florence May Immekus

If anyone ever cared, really cared for someone else it would have to be Florence May Immekus. She was a warm hearted and well liked individual, and these wonderful traits came easily to her because she was such a sociable and amiable person, someone who was always making certain that those around her had whatever they needed. Florence was a talkative person who was tactful at all times but typically said what she meant.

Florence was born on October 1, 1922 at home in Marcellus, Michigan. She was the daughter of Peter and Mary Powell. Florence was raised in Marcellus, Michigan. During her childhood she learned to be reliable and respectful. Florence was an obedient child who wanted to win the favor of others. She found it easy to show sympathy and to perform kind acts for others. These admirable qualities would become a part of Florence's personality throughout her life.

Though Florence was frequently the one to initiate games and activities with her family, she was also quite often the family member who took the role of referee. Florence was a peace-maker with an ability to resolve all sorts of family conflicts. In fact, Florence worked conscientiously to keep those typical family spats at bay. Florence was raised with three siblings. She had two older sisters, Eileen and Phyllis and one older brother, Philip. Florence and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they cared deeply for one another.

For Florence, the school routines were never a problem although she generally preferred variety to structure. She seemed to be able to start a project and work right through to its completion. And she was able to do it quickly and efficiently. Florence was also adept at details. Florence was very observant and was generally quick at picking up new things. She graduated from Marcellus High School in 1941. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Literature.

There was one thing that all of Florence's friends knew and will still remember, and that is that she was a talker. She could pretty much talk to anybody about anything. This quality is one of the primary reasons that Florence was such a popular person throughout her life. But Florence was also dependable, loyal and trustworthy. Florence was the kind of person who simply radiated good fellowship. While she maintained personal standards and her own personal values, Florence was very accepting of others. With a distinct skill for working things out, Florence was often the person who would organize events. In fact, Florence was fairly comfortable playing the role of “host” for just about any occasion. When Florence made friends, she made true and lasting friendships. Later in life, she became friends with Maria Espinosa, Dorothy Razo, her granddaughter Jaimee and her daughter-in-law Rosa.

Florence was a faithful and loving person. Florence and Francis Joseph Immekus, Jr. were married on April 17, 1951. Some would even call her sentimental and a romantic at heart. Her kindness and consideration radiated an aura of warmth to those around her. Florence cared for what others thought and carried that into her marriage. Compassionate and devoted, Florence worked hard to make her new life partner happy.

Harmony was important to Florence and she made every effort to maintain it with her family. Florence was blessed with one child, one son, Peter Joseph Immekus. They were also blessed with three grandchildren Jaimee, Elias and Mando and three great-grandchildren Eileen, Anden and Amry. Florence was always conscious of the feelings others had. She was reasonable and understanding. As a result, Florence was quick to solve disputes and did so without much fuss. Her secret of success in this area was simple: Florence would listen before she would act.

Taking her work seriously came naturally to Florence, and she expected the same from those around her. Florence was a good team player, someone who was born to cooperate with others. She was what some would call a “people person” and it was demonstrated in her good communication skills. Florence was a steady worker, one who was realistic about schedules. The kind of details that would give family members and work colleagues fits were situations that Florence handled well. She could understand the details without getting lost in the broad “big picture.” Her primary occupation was executive secretary to the president. She was employed for 33 years at Systron Donner Microwave Corporation. She brought harmony to her work environment, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done, while always maintaining respect for her colleagues.

A methodical woman, Florence enjoyed spending time working on her various hobbies. She had no problem following all of the steps and instructions on a given project and was proud of the fact that she could have something to show for her efforts. Her favorite pursuits were reading, politics, bird watching and walking.

Florence was one of those people who took pride in constantly putting forth her best effort. Nowhere was that more visible than in sports. Florence was always enthusiastic and a great team player. Recreational sports included bowling and walking. Florence also liked being a sports fan and enjoyed following her favorite teams whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were football, baseball and the Olympics.

Her keen interest in things that affected the lives of other people led Florence to become actively involved in professional and community organizations. Because she was outgoing and worked well with others, Florence did her fair share of volunteer work. And she wouldn’t shy away from taking the lead on committees or events, either. She was a born list maker and was great at creating and sticking to schedules. In high school, Florence was a member of the Girls Club. Throughout her later years, Florence was an active member of the Women's sorority.

Florence was the kind of person who would readily move into action in order to help others. She was appreciated and respected. She could find value in the opinions of others and was passionate about her own values and beliefs. So it’s little wonder that she was active and highly valued by those in her community, serving on committees for the volunteer at her local Catholic Parish. Politically, Florence was a supporter of the Democratic Party.

Her high moral standards and traditional values served Florence well with her faith. Religion and faith were important to her. She was a member of the Catholic Church. During that time, she volunteered at the church book store. She was well respected because she was such an outgoing individual who sought to help in any manner she could.

Not only did Florence enjoy traveling, but she also seemed to enjoy planning all of those trips and vacations. She was a facilitator who could easily make up a near perfect schedule of all of the things to do and see. She rarely tired of going back and revisiting her favorite places. Favorite vacations included Alaskan Cruise, Lake Arrowhead and Niagara Falls.

Florence was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of her favorites was Koko, a ragdoll cat, who was a best friend for 10 years. Her family was rounded out by her three dogs, Oscar, Chester and Harley.

Since it was easy for Florence to meet and get to know new people, she quickly made friends, even in retirement. Once she met those new friends, she loved sharing stories and talking about the good old days. Since she was practical and cost effective, Florence was ready when that day to retire finally came in 1995. Her new life involved relocating to Canyon Country, then Walnut to live with her son and daughter-in-law. In retirement, she found new pleasure in walking, reading and NFL. Even in retirement, Florence stayed in touch with her old friends and made plenty of new acquaintances. She was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities that retirement offered her.

Florence passed away on February 15, 2012 at San Dimas Hospital in San Dimas, California. She is survived by her son Peter (Rosa), granddaughter Jaimee (Jason), Grandsons Mando (Liz), Elias (Christina) and three great-grandchildren Eileen, Anden and Amry. Services were held at Custer Christiansen Chapel. Florence was laid to rest in San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.

Florence was a fantastic conversationalist who could engage just about anyone in a discussion. And whenever she said something, she meant it. Florence was a down to earth person, outgoing and gregarious. She was without question the type of person who enjoyed experiencing things first hand. She was practical and sensible, but what friends and family will remember her for most is the fact that she was so understanding and kind. Everyone whose life she touched will miss Florence May Immekus.