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Florence Rose DiBari Jessup Orlando, 86, Of Peekskill

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- Florence Rose DiBari Jessup Orlando of Peekskill died Dec. 18. She was 86.

Florence Rose DiBari Jessup Orlando

Florence Rose DiBari Jessup Orlando

Photo Credit: Contributed

She was born in Peekskill on Jan. 18, 1931 to the late Joseph Guilio DiBari and Rosa Cirillo DiBari. Florence was six when she and her five siblings were put into St. Joseph's orphanage in Peekskill after their mother died. She graduated from Peekskill High School in 1949. Florence had a hard childhood but never used that as an excuse; she was a determined, hard worker. 

She married Leonard Morgan Jessup September 1951, and they moved to Norwich, Conn. They divorced four years later and Florence and her two children lived with her older sister, Angie, and their family. She was a waitress at the Peekskill Diner where she met her second husband, Rocky Orlando. They got married  August 12, 1962 and moved to White Plains, (Silver Lake) NY. He died March 21, 1995.

She worked at the North Court Restaurant for over 12 years. Florence then went to work at Macy's in White Plains, starting out in the domestics department for a couple of years. Then she moved to the furniture department where she was quite successful. She retired in 1999 and moved to Hurricane, Utah where her daughter lived.

Florence had a hard time adjusting to the culture in Utah and missed her family and friends in New York. She always bragged that she was the only one in the family that wasn't Mormon. She started going to senior citizen dances where she met Ivan Welker. Ivan has been there for her for over 15 years and she loved him very much. She joined a dance group, Prime Time Performers under the direction of Ilene Hacker. Florence loved to dance and be in the spotlight, she was a real ham. She also danced with the Sassy Seniors under the direction of Bobby Andrews, where she did a solo mime song and dance to "Second Hand Rose." They performed at the local rest homes and senior citizen centers.

Florence loved to be surrounded by family and loved each one of them. She had a great sense of humor, very quick with her comebacks. She could tell you the name of every actor in all the old movies. She loved trivia and being able to prove that she was right.

As far as Florence was concerned, if you were going shopping, you were really going to Macy's. She would say she was going to the mall but was ready to leave after going to Macy's. She loved her employee discount and could tell you how many discounts she got on a 10-year-old item.

Florence is survived by her daughter Lyn Pratt (Gerold), and son Leonard (Lenny) Jessup, AZ. Grandchildren Heather Beatty (Zak), Ryan Hutchings (Kristine), Lindsey Johnson (Edwin), Tanner Jessup (AZ). Great grandchildren Rocky Beatty (Paige), Shelby Beatty, Treydan Beatty, Kael Beatty, Abby Beatty, Brendan Hutchings, Carter Hutchings, Jace Hutchings, Frankie Johnson. Her brother, Dominick (Mariam) DiBari. Special friend/companion, Ivan Welker.

She was predeceased by her husband Rocco Orlando, sisters Angie Dasecke and Louise Milliken, brother Frank Dibari, grandson Michael Hutchings and many very dear friends that she missed on a daily basis.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 28 at the Hurricane West Stake Center, 272 S. 700 W. Hurricane, Utah. Viewing 9-10:45 a.m., funeral at 11 a.m. Interment at the Hurricane City cemetery.

Friends and family are invited to share condolences online at Serenity Funeral Home, George, Utah.  

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