Obituary: Florence Buyser Funch

Florence Buyser Funch, 92, of Groton, died at Apple Valley Center in Ayer on October 26, 2012. She was born in Mt. Vernon, NY on June 19, 1920, daughter of the late Johannes and Cecilia (Nowicki) Buyser. Her twin brother was the late Richard Buyser of Hermosa Beach, CA. She was the wife of the late Willard C. Funch of Staten Island, NY for 35 years and the late William C. Bartlett of Eastham, MA for 10 years.

Florence grew up in Yonkers and Brooklyn, NY and Rockaway, NJ. She was a graduate of Bay Ridge High School in Brooklyn and the King’s County Nursing School. She received her Master’s in Public Health Administration from Columbia University. She worked for the Visiting Nurses Association in Staten Island and Brooklyn, retiring as a supervisor in 1982. Florence moved to N. Eastham, MA in 1984 and to RiverCourt Residences in Groton in 2003. She was active in the Girl Scouts until her retirement and she volunteered for Independence House in Orleans, MA, helping battered women on Cape Cod as a court advocate and safe house host for over 15 years. Florence was an active member of the First Parish Church of Groton, Unitarian-Universalist in Groton and volunteered weekly at Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer. Florence greatly enjoyed the many Indian Hill Music concerts she attended, especially the Bach’s Lunches. She loved to walk, particularly in the woods, played golf until she was 89, bowled until nearly 92, and was fiercely independent. FlorenceShe was generous to those in need, thought very little of her own possessions, and will be remembered fondly.

Her survivors include a cousin, Carole Reilly, of Pelham, NY; three sons, Carl W. Funch and his wife Mariann of Sugarland TX, Roy R. Funch and his wife Leigia in Brazil; and Paul G. Funch and his wife Donnie of Groton; 11 grandchildren: Steven, Christopher, Lisa, Krayl, William, Kristin, Rodrigo, Joanna, Ricardo, Raphael, and Ryan; and seven great grandchildren: Toria, Alan, Lara, Sacha, Atila, Petruchio, and Beatrise.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18, at the First Parish Church of Groton. Donations may be made in her name to Independence House either online or by mail to Dir. of Operations & Personnel, 160 Bassett Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601.