MOREAU – Florence Ida (Bunker) Goff Sgarellino Pickett, passed away on August 29, 2023, after a period of declining health.
Born on
April 21, 1935, in East Poultney, Vermont, she was the daughter of the late
John N. and Marion E. (Loomis) Bunker of Low Hampton, New York.
Florence
graduated from Whitehall Central School in 1952. She retired as a school bus
driver for Whitehall Central School District after driving for over 10 years.
As a member of the First Baptist Church of Whitehall, Florence taught Sunday
school and was a member of the Ladies Baptist Aid, serving as Love Gift
chairman. After moving to South Glens Falls, Florence became a member of the
First Baptist Church of South Glens Falls.
While
working as a school bus driver, Florence was a member and president of the
Whitehall Non-Teaching Association and president of the CSEA Whitehall
Non-Teaching Association. She was an avid bowler and president of the Whitehall
Elks Ladies Tuesday Night Bowling League until 1982. In the nineties, Florence
bowled at the Lake George Bowl with the Post Star Mixed and later with the
Youngsters until 2004. In the late seventies, she was President of Parents
without Partners of Glens Falls. Florence enjoyed country music, round and
square dancing, and was an active member of the Dick Ladd Square Dance
Association, having served as trustee, treasurer, vice president, secretary,
financial consultant, and a member of the auditing committee.
When
Florence was 74, she learned to play the dulcimer and later taught herself to
play the harmonica. While in Florida she learned to play the spoons with the
Kitchen Band and took up line dancing.
Florence
enjoyed camping and fishing in the Adirondacks with her husband, John. She loved
traveling and seeing the country having made six cross-country trips, visiting many
beautiful sites and relatives in California. With her husband, Angelo, she took
two extended trips to Sicily, visiting his relatives and touring Italy. She
traveled to England, with her daughter Floranne where Florence visited her
Grandfather Bunker’s birthplace, Plymouth, England. She also enjoyed playing
cards, dancing, golfing, and bowling.
Her
hobbies included photography, painting and drawing for her family, crocheting, gardening,
and crafts. Later in her life, she began making her own cards for birthdays,
anniversaries,
and special occasions that incorporated her passion for wildlife and floral photography.
Florence
spent many winters with her partner Chuck in Lady Lake, Florida, where they
played golf and enjoyed listening to music at the Orange Blossom Opry House in
Weirsdale and the Steel Guitar Jam in Lake Panasoffkee. They had the pleasure
of hearing in person Mel Tillis, Gene Watson, Connie Smith and Marty Stuart, Whispering
Bill Anderson, Little Jimmy Dickens, Ray Price, Lynn Anderson, The Bellamy
Brothers, Bill Haley and the Comets, Rhonda Vincent, Daryle Singletary and
others.
In
addition to her parents, Florence was predeceased by her oldest daughter Diane L.
Goff (d. 1958), and her youngest son, Aonald P. ”Onnie” Goff (d. 2004); her
partner of 17-years Charles (Chuck) Simmons (d. 2022) and husbands John E.
Pickett (d. 2004), Angelo S. Sgarellino (d. 1988) and Donald R. Goff (d. 2018);
her step-daughter, Christine (Pickett) O’Neill (d. 2020); her step-grandson,
Lee D. Herbst (d. 2012); brothers, Paul “Pete” Bunker (d. 2019) and Eugene
Bunker (d. 2023) and sister, Marion (Bunker) Turner (d. 2022).
Florence
is survived by children from her first marriage, Donald (Robin) Goff of
Kingsbury, Ronald (Julie) Goff of Granville, Floranne (Fred) Hammond, of Bow,
NH, and Kristianne (Edward) Greenwood of Whitehall; step-daughters, Holly (Mark)
Deojay of Lakewood, CA, Debra Sgarellino of Wethersfield, CT, and step-son Paul
Pickett of Queensbury; and her brother John “Jack” (Barbara) Bunker of
Granville and sister Marjorie Christy of Low Hampton.
Florence
leaves behind fifteen grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and many
more step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She loved them all in
ways they will never understand. A personal visit, however long, brought a visible
sparkle to her eyes. She especially enjoyed taking them fishing, bowling or
playing a round of miniature golf.
Calling
hours will be on Friday, September 8, 2023 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Carleton
Funeral Home, 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.
Funeral
Services will be conducted at Carleton Funeral Home, 68 Main Street in Hudson
Falls on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 11:00 am, with Reverend Flossie Bates
officiating.
Bearers are
Donald and Christian Goff, Christopher Goff, Eric and Scott Hammond, and
Raymond Wilbur.
Florence
will be buried next to her youngest son, Aonald Goff at Oakwood Cemetery, in
Granville.
Family
and friends are welcome to a reception at the United Methodist Church at 18
Church St, Granville, NY following the graveside service for a time of
fellowship and refreshments.
In lieu
of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the First
Baptist Church of South Glens Falls or local chapters of the American Cancer
Society, American Lung Association, or American Heart Association.