Florence “Flori” Shirley Shaer, age 89, of Red Bank, New Jersey, formerly of Surf City, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. She was born on February 17, 1935 on Staten Island, New York.
Mrs. Shaer was predeceased by her husband of 38 years, Norman Shaer (2014); son Ludwig Christian Bilow IV (2007); and her parents Michael and Ruth Simon.
Flori is survived by her son Bruce Bilow and his wife Catherine, daughter Susan Bailey and her husband James, daughters Nancy Bilow and Susan Gardella with her husband Stephen, grandson Michael Bilow and his wife Danielle, grandson Jason Bilow and his wife Claire, granddaughters Annie Penta, Alison Gardella, Barbara Bailey and Ella Bilow, grandsons Matthew and Ryan Laytham with his wife Samantha, and great-grandchildren Avery June Bilow, Margaret Holiday Bilow and Luca Michael Bilow. She is also survived by her beloved sisters Barbara Colee, Michelle DiChiara, her nieces, nephew and their families who she loved and adored.
Flori attended Wagner College. She prided herself for being an interior designer, working retail and especially helping her son Bruce get started in his dental practice many years ago. She was very creative and always had a project in the works. Flori was a member of her local Woman’s Club, loved gardening and entertaining. She delighted in cooking and throwing big parties for friends and family, celebrating holidays and creating family traditions and memories.
She lived an abundant life with her husband Norman and together they traveled the world. They savored the lifestyles of 108 in Locust, NJ; South Beach Miami, FL; and Surf City Long Beach Island, NJ. After Norm’s passing she enjoyed life at the Atrium with her many friends and her cherished dog Blu.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, 2130 Highway 35, Ocean, New Jersey 07712 immediately followed by a committal service at 12:15 PM at Congregation B'nai Israel Cemetery, 492 Riverdale Avenue, Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07724.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Flori's memory may be made to Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org) to support children with cleft palate.