IN MEMORIAM: Florence E. Kespert, 86;
Sullivan County Native Resided At Plains
ONEONTA – Florence Emily Kespert, 86, who had lived the Plains at Parish Homestead for the past five years, passed away peacefully on Aug. 10, 2019, at Fox Hospital.
Florence was born on July 19, 1933, in White Sulphur Springs, Sullivan County. She was the daughter of Dorothy and Leo Bryan. She graduated from Liberty High School.
On May 16, 1953, in Liberty, Florence married Harold Kespert. They settled down in Youngsville to raise their family. They were happily married for 51 years.
For 20 years, Florence worked for NYSEG in Liberty.
While living in Youngsville, Florence and Harold were members of the Happy Footers Western Style Square Dance Club. They did the “do-si-do” across New York State, in Washington, Oregon and California. They traveled around the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. They enjoyed tours of Canada and Caribbean cruises.
Upon retirement in 1988, Florence and Harold moved to High Point, Fla. She became active in sewing guilds, making lap robes and walker bags for nursing home residents. They later moved to Inverness, Fla.
Florence was widowed in 2004 and remained in Inverness until 2014 when she moved to The Plains, near one of her daughters, Laurie Trelease, who lives in Oneonta.
Florence became a member of the Susquehanna Valley Quilters and made placemats for Meals on Wheels recipients. She joined First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta.
She will be remembered for her love of hummingbirds, Reuben sandwiches and her pineapple upside down cake recipe. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Florence is survived by her sister, Gloria Porter of Grahamsville; her brother, Leslie (Gloria) Bryan of Carrolton, Georgia; her daughters, Laurie (Thomas) Trelease of Oneonta and Kathy (Mike) Orr of Princeton, Idaho; and grandchildren, Brian (Kelli) Orr of Powell, Wyoming, Kevin Orr of Onalaska, Wash., Colleen (Emmanuel) Corral of Liberty Lake, Washington, Eric (Jennifer) Trelease of Potsdam and Andrew (Tina) Trelease of Philadelphia.
Florence had 10 great-grandchildren, Jacob and Emily Orr, Dean, Sam and May Florencia Corral, Eleora, Silas, Abraham, Hannah Florence and Caleb Trelease. Florence was also loved by her nephew, Ed (Linda) Porter; niece, Cheryl Porter; and friends, Paul Miller and Marge McLeod.
The family especially thanks the doctors and nurses of A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital and A.O. Fox Nursing Home for their kindness and compassion.
A service to honor the life of Florence Kespert will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 24, at First Presbyterian Church, 296 Main St., Oneonta, with the Rev. Mark Montfort presiding.
Memorial contributions made to First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta.
Funeral arrangements and online guestbook are by Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, Oneonta, www.lhpfuneralhome.com.
My condolences to Kespert family. I worked with Florence at NYSEG when I first started and we became friends. She mentored me and taught me a lot. We had a good time working together. She was the switchboard operator and I was the meter clerk. We exchanged Christmas cards for many years and had lost contact over time. I will always remember her with a big smile on her face. May your memories comfort you all.