Florence M. Symonds

Florence Marano Symonds, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2019 at a wonderfully caring Hospice Center in Raleigh NC. She died holding her daughter’s hands with Grandma Sophie's bathrobe covering her. Florence was 97, a mere 3 years short of her goal to be 100.
She was born September 26, 1922 to Sophie (Zagraniczny) and Alphonso Marano, in Utica, NY. The Marano clan moved to Sherburne, NY in the late 1920’s where Florence lived until she was 94. After that time, she split her time between NC and NY.
During her 85 plus years in Sherburne she worked many jobs including picking peas & beans and working at: “The Mill”, Bennett Ireland, Balch’s, Resch & Vollmar Accounting and too many others to list here. Florence was also active in many civil and Veterans associations in the area. She was an active member of St. Malachy’s Church and Altar Rosary Society, The American Legion Auxiliary to Post #876, Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post #2782 as well as a long-time voting poll worker. She enjoyed cooking for large groups (as well as partying with them), playing cards (pitch, poker), and slot machines. And of course, the week was never complete without a BINGO game.
In 1960 she married David Symonds, who predeceased her, and actually married him 2 more times! With David came his four children, John “Butch” (Denise) Symonds, David “Sam” (Annette) Symonds Jr., Debbie Symonds (Kenny – predeceased) Wheeler, and Mark (Donna) Symonds. They then added more, their daughters, Jackie Symonds (Dean) Utter and Teresa “Terri” Symonds (Jim) Smith. Florence was very family oriented and in additional to her children, she helped raise 4 of her nieces and nephews: Donny (Dorothy) Unger, Linda Clum (Brian) Cunnane, Robert (Sue) Marano and Barbara Marano (Bill Graves) Biamonte. In all, Florence’s legacy includes 10 children, 23 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. This does not include nieces, nephews, cousins and everyone else that entered her house.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at St. Malachy’s Church, East State St., Sherburne.
Interment will be in St. Malachy’s Cemetery in the spring.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne on Tuesday from 4-7pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The Food Pantry at St. Malachy’s Church, PO Box 722, 31 East State St., Sherburne, NY 13460 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County 21 Hayes St, Norwich, NY 13815.