Obituary of Florence Cohen

FLORENCE (FLO) COHEN MONTICELLO, NY AND AVENTURA, FLA Florence (Flo) Cohen was born on Cottage Street in Monticello, New York on October 14, 1917, to Harry Katz, a local barber, and Sarah Katz. She was a life long, year round resident of Monticello until the mid 1980's when she became a snowbird, living part of each year in Southeastern Florida. Although she became a year round resident of Florida in the early 1990's, she would always consider Monticello to be her home. She passed away peacefully on September 23, 2007, at the age of 89. She remained until the end more concerned about the needs of the people around her than of her own needs. Flo was the wife of local attorney, Malvin A. Cohen, her high school sweetheart, who predeceased her in 1981 after 42 years of marriage. She was a devoted wife who was known for telling her three sons: Your father is always right, even when hes wrong hes right. Flo delighted in the brilliance and mischievousness of her husband, and it was in her roles as a wife and a mother that she found the greatest joy. Flo was a devoted mother to her three beloved sons, all of whom grew up to become lawyers like their father: Ira Jay Cohen of Wurtsboro, Herbert M. Cohen of Hollywood Florida, and Robert S. Cohen of Monticello and Aventura, Florida. Flo was the epitome of all good things that could be said about a Jewish mother; she was fiercely devoted to her boys, and each of them felt the intensity of her unconditional love. She kvelled over their accomplishments, and suffered along with them during their travails. Without question, the greatest tragedy in her life occurred when her youngest son, Robby, suffered a traumatic brain injury following a severe asthma attack in 1989. She unselfishly devoted many years of her life to Robbys recovery, and Robby was able to make a miraculous recovery and attain independence. In Flos later years, Robby was able to repay her devotion by caring for her, and by so doing, he was also able to give her a great gift, the knowledge that her beloved Robby was going to be O.K. Flo loved her children dearly, and she was well loved in return. Flo was a part of an active social circle in Monticello. She remained gregarious and social throughout her adult life and enjoyed a large circle of friends, who knew her as a woman of great beauty, good manners, grace and kindness. She played Mahjong in her early years, and later became engaged in high stakes card games with her friends in which, after many hours of play, the winner could go home with as much 25in her pocket. Flo was a kind and gracious friend, and she loved to meet her friends for lunch and a little shopping. She was always impeccably dressed and had a wonderful sense of fashion. She was diminutive with thick red hair, thus earning the moniker of Little Red. Flo was known for her great cooking, and she specialized in a style of eating in which she only periodically grazed her seat before moving around the table to bring more food or to take away an empty plate. She was a hostess in perpetual motion. She came from the school that you always prepared more food than anyone could eat, and then implored her guests to eat just one more bite so that it wouldnt go to waste. An inveterate sweet tooth, she could always be counted on to have cake, ruggelach and candy in the house. No one would ever be hungry after a visit to Flos. Flo was raised in a small family, having only one older brother, David Kaye, whom Flo adored. But she always wanted a big family and she was blessed as an adult with six granddaughters, Heather, Dylan, Emma, Shelby, Jodie and Sarah; one grandson, Jacob, and one great-granddaughter, Olivia. Flo was also a second mother to her two nephews who lived next door on Starr Avenue in Monticello, Irwin Meyer and Norman Meyer, and as well as her niece, Isabelle Meyer who also lived in the neighborhood. Her two daughters-in-law, Sandra Heck and Denise Cohen were privileged to have Flo as their mother-in-law and she will be sorely missed. Flo was a life long member of the Landfield Avenue Synagogue, Hadassah, and Bnai Brith. She lived in the village throughout the glory days of the Catskill resort industry, and with many other women of her generation in Monticello, worked at the telephone company before resigning to raise a family. For her friends and family, it is truly the end of an era. Services will be held on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, 388 Broadway, Monticello, New York. The burial will follow at the Landfield Avenue Synagogue Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties Inc. 800 Stony Court, Newburgh, NY 12550