nee Florimonte
February 3, 2023 (age 74)
Nancy Rose Flowers
Nancy Rose Flowers (nee Florimonte), 74, of Cincinnati peacefully passed away February 3, 2023 with her family by her side. She was born September 19, 1948 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Benevengo) Florimonte. Beloved wife of Jim for 54 years. Loving mother of Jim (Lisa) Flowers, Chris (Laura) Flowers, Kelly (Dave) Combs, Matt (Erin) Flowers. Cherished Granny of Jordan Flowers, Jack (Ignas Karaliunas) Flowers, Faith (Luke) Jett, Benjamin Flowers, Emily Flowers, Luke Flowers, Samantha Flowers, Perry Combs. Dear sister of Mike (Susan) Florimonte, and the late Patty (Jim) Stanghetti. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other family members and friends.
The 9:00 AM Mass on Sunday, February 26 will be in honor of Nancy at San Antonio Church, 1950 Queen City Avenue, Cincinnati 45214. A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held in the undercroft of San Antonio church immediately after Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the “San Antonio Fund”, Holy Family Parish, 3006 West Eighth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45205.
On February 26, 2023, this 1st Sunday in Lent, we welcome members from the Flowers, Florimonte, Benevengo, Combs, Cerchio Minella and Stanghetti Families back to San Antonio Church to mourn and remember their matriarch, Nancy Jean (Florimonte) Flowers who passed away on February 3, 2023 on the Feast of St. Blaise at the age of 74. Nancy Rose Flowers (Nee Florimonte) was the daughter of the late Michael (Michele) Joseph Florimonte (1922-1975) and Mary Grace (Benevengo) Florimonte (1925-1987) both born in Italy; married in 1947 after he served in the Army in World War II. They both came from large families and were proud of their Italian Heritage. On her father Michael’s side Nancy was close with his siblings, her Aunts and Uncles, Louise, Lena, Antoinette, Anna Marie, Angelo, Anthony, and Joseph. Nancy had many cousins from the Florimonte, Cerchio, Minella Di Stasi, Nese, Odenbach, Sprecker and Volpe families with many relatives still living in Italy. Nancy’s Grandparents, her father Michael parents were Giuseppe (Joseph) Florimonte (1900-1961) and Rosaria Maria (Minella) Florimonte (1900-1971) who were married on April 7, 1921 in Felitto, Italy arrived in New York on July 28, 1922 then settled in Akron, Ohio where their 1st child Louise (1929-1988) was born.
Nancy’s Great Grandparents on the Florimonte side were Michele Florimonte (1848-1929) and 1st wife Maria Carmela( Nese) Florimonte (1847-1880) married on February 20, 1871 and welcomed 2 children before she died after 9 years of marriage. Michele wed 2nd wife, Luigia (Di Stasi ) Florimonte (1860-1949) and would add 9 children to their family as they lived their whole lives in Italy and are buried there.
Nancy’s Great Great Grandparents were Nicola Florimonte (1811-1853) and Anna (Minella) Florimonte who married on January 16, 1836 in Italy and had 2 children before he died at the age of 42. They are all buried in Felitto, Italy. Her Great Great Great Grandparents were Francantonio Florimonte and Giuseppa (Volpe) Florimonte who welcomed 3 children Carmela (1806-1852), Gaetana Vincenza Florimonte born in 1810, and Nicola Florimonte (1811-1853) in Felitto, Italy.
Nancy’s mother, Mary Grace Benevengo Florimonte’s parents and her grandparents were John Benevengo (1888-1969) who came to the U.S. through Boston, Massachusetts in 1914 at the age of 26 and Jeanette (Cirrone) Benevengo (1891-1968) who arrived from Italy earlier in 1912 and lived in Boston, Massachusetts with parents Louis and Rose (Recchia) Cirrone. John Benevengo and Jeanette Cirrone were married in Pennsylvania in 1923. The Benevengo Uncles and Aunts: Frank, Louis, John,, Margaret, Jean, and Rose with Nancy sharing many cousins from the Bamonte, Inman and Kleinger Families.
Nancy (Florimonte) Flowers grew up with many ties to South Fairmount along with her late sister Patricia Jean (Florimonte) Stanghetti (1950-2020) and brother Michael Florimonte. Nancy wed James (Jim) Flowers in October of 1968 at San Antonio Church with her sister Pat Florimonte as her Maid of Honor. In May of 1972, Nancy (Florimonte) Flowers witnessed her sister Patty’s wedding to James (Jim) Stanghetti also at San Antonio Church. Before her passing, Nancy and Jim Flowers celebrated 54 years as a loving couple who spent many memorable vacations with their family. They welcomed 4 children, 3 sons and 1 daughter during those happily married years and joyfully celebrated their 4 family weddings of Jim to Lisa, Chris to Laura, Kelly to Dave and Matt to Erin. Nancy was thrilled when grandchildren entered their family and was proud of all their accomplishments as she saw them grow and flourish as they approached adulthood.
Nancy’s Grandchildren: Jordan Flowers, Jack (Ignas Karaliunas) Flowers, Faith (Luke) Jett, Benjamin Flowers, Emily Flowers, Luke Flowers, Samantha Flowers and the youngest Perry Combs who enjoyed the many memorable times she spent with her beloved Granny. Nancy also leaves her brother Mike, sister-in-law Susan, and their family; brother-in-law, Jim Stanghetti and her late sister Pat and their family, and cousin Vince and Jean Cerchio and their family. Our San Antonio Church Community sends their condolences and prayers on the loss of Nancy Jean (Florimonte) Flowers (1948-2023).
By Terrie Evans