Floreine Therese Appel's Obituary
Floreine Therese (Hickey) Appel born in Joliet, IL, February 20, 1929.
At rest peacefully July 07, 2021, Age 92, at Suncoast Hospice Care Center Pinellas Park, FL, with her family by her side.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Frank J. & Florence M. (McGee) Hickey of Joliet, IL, her loving husband of 66 years (Don) Donald F. Appel, her grandson Jeffrey Appel of Largo, FL, and [4] great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her loving family; sons Ron (Ruth) Appel of Palm Harbor, FL.
Gregg P. (Mary Ellen) Appel of Seminole, FL.
Dearest grandmother to grandchildren; Michelle (Mark) Day of Clearwater, FL; Eileen Appel of Columbia, IL; Jennifer (Garrett Knispel) Appel of New Lenox, IL; Donald F. Appel of Columbia, IL; John (Natalie) Appel of Pinellas Park, FL; Emily (Jeff) Pruden, of Dupo, IL; and step-grandchildren; Steve (Karen) Vitanovec of Joliet, IL; Noah (Cally) Levine of Deerfield Beach, FL; Gabriel Levine of Seminole, FL.
Born in Joliet, IL she lived most of her life in this historic town. In 2000, Floreine & Don retired and moved to the Sunshine State in Largo FL. Both were members of St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Largo. Floreine was a very talented, dedicated, loving and caring Mother, grandmother and a cherished great-grandmother of 17 great-grandchildren. She was a trained Pianist and received many awards in music from St Francis Academy & St Francis College in Joliet. She was employed with Illinois Bell Telephone Co. for many years. She was one of the original members of the Pioneers Telephone Workers of America. She also worked for the Joliet Post Office Credit Union and the Joliet Herald Newspaper. Floreine was a volunteer at St Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet, IL.
Floreine shared her talent of music in piano & organ, as a teacher from her home in Joliet. She also played organ for her church, Holy Family Catholic Parish in Joliet, her family and many neighbors. Most neighbors stopped and set up lawn chairs for their free concert. Don, her biggest fan, would make countless cassette recordings of Floreine’s music, which included her sons, whose singing voices she nurtured.
Floreine was very active in Church Ladies Auxiliary organizations including St. Matthew’s Young at Hearts Club. She was a great home baker. She enjoyed cooking and would make the best pumpkin and banana nut bread. She mimicked her mother in that when she cooked, she used about every pan we had, which her sons had to hand wash. Floreine also spent many hours making craft items or crocheting afghans for her family members. Floreine devoted her life to her husband, her sons, and all her grandchildren & great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions to your local food pantries in her name would be greatly appreciated.
The family of Floreine Appel invites all relatives and friends to join them for visitation this Monday, July 12, 2021, from 10:00 to 11:00 am in the gathering annex of St Jerome Catholic Church, 10895 Hamlin Blvd., Largo, FL 33774. Following visitation, there will be a Life Celebration Mass for Floreine.
The full Mass will be on Livestream, from 10:50 to 12:30pm. Please go to the St Jerome Church web site and click on Livestream, then LIVE.
Link: https://www.stjeromeonline.org/live-stream.html
Following the Mass, all are welcome to attend an Interment Ceremony at Serenity Gardens Memorial Park, 13401 Indian Rocks Rd. Largo, FL. 33774
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