Flo was the beloved wife of the late Robert E. Donovan; loving mother and mother-in-law of Mike, Larry (Denise), Kathy Hager (Jim), Debbie End (Mike); dear grandmother of Laurie Tighe, Katie Hartnett, Shannon Spisak, Stacey Gearhart, Christy Nelson and Ryan End; dear great grandmother of James and Finley Tighe, Jackson and Evie Hartnett, Sam and Shane Spisak, Timothy Gearhart and Lily Nelson.
Flo was born and raised in north St. Louis and attended Irving grade school and Central High. Flo met Bob while they were working at Sligo and they were married at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in 1948. They raised their children in St. Anthony of Padua’s Parish and lived most of their lives in their home on Virginia (approximately 40 years) in south St. Louis city. When her youngest children were in grade school, Flo held a part-time secretarial position at Khoury Brothers and then became a Field Sales Representative for Rubbermaid. Later in her life (in her 50’s) she went back to work (part-time) as a cashier at Kristof’s Market. After moving to South County, she worked part-time as a clerk at Winkelmann’s Pharmacy.
Flo enjoyed barbecues, picnics, and celebrating holidays with extended family members. Flo made the best barbecue and was just an all-around great cook. She enjoyed watching her kids play the many sports they were involved in and was a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. There was a time when she knew all the players, their positions, and could talk stats with the best of them. She also enjoyed cutting her grass, raking her leaves, shoveling snow, and gardening. She had beautiful flowers and the best manicured lawns. She also planted annual tomato gardens while living on Virginia.
Flo enjoyed bowling, playing cards, Bingo, Tri-Ominos, and dancing. She also enjoyed working the daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper and playing Scribbage with her daughters. Flo and Bob were so involved with raising their four children, they didn’t have much free time. Bob was a city firefighter and had a side job on his days off; Flo was pretty much the glue that held the family together. Some of her many roles included:
• Cook, cleaner, ironer
• Lawn mower, trimmer, gardener, leaves raker and snow shoveler
• Chauffeur for her children – anywhere and everywhere
• Homework monitor
• Den mother for her sons when they were boy scouts
• Bowling coach for her daughters’ bowling league
• Seamstress for Debbie’s dance recital costumes
• Active member of the Ladies Sodality
• Quilter and Treasurer of St. Anthony’s Quilters Club for over 25 years
• Regular volunteer at St. Anthony’s picnics even after moving out of the parish to the county
• Babysitter for all her grandchildren and even dog-sitter at times for Debbie’s dog, Chocolate
• Assisted with her children’s many relocations; helped pack/unpack, set-up and decorate new homes. All four children were so blessed to ALWAYS have the help and support of their parents!
As mentioned earlier, Flo and Bob didn’t travel often, but they did go on a cruise to the Bahamas and went to Las Vegas a couple times. Flo visited her daughter, Kathy, in Michigan on a regular basis and even made all her granddaughters’ out-of-state dance recitals! Flo was the biggest supporter/cheerleader for both her children and grandchildren. She was always there with clapping hands and a proud smile.
If you’d ask her children what they’d say about their Mom, here are some answers you’d get:
• She’s strong yet has a gentle touch.
• She’s firm yet has a loving nature.
• She’s honest and will tell it like it is.
• She’s been widowed for 25 years and lived independently till she was 85.
• She had a strong friendship with her best friend, Charmaine Hacke, that went all the way back to Kindergarten. That’s amazing and so was our Mom!
WE LOVE HER…. WE’LL MISS HER….AND WE’RE EVER SO THANKFUL SHE WAS OUR MOM!
Visitation will be Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 2-6pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary 6464 Chippewa 63109. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, February 1 at 9:30am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church 3140 Meramec 63118. Masks are required at the funeral home and church.
Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association in Flo's memory would be appreciated.
Please leave your favorite memory of Flo for her family to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.
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