Florence Drakeley

Florence Drakeley

For Florence, family always came first. She loved to gather her flock around her table: the Irish girl loved to cook Italian. Her grandkids and great-grandkids brought out the fun side of Florence: she regaled them with stories, sang, danced and acted silly. She was never more relaxed then when at the shore. You’d either find her with her toes in the sand or ordering up coconut and pineapple ice cream in a waffle at Hassles. In her spare time she liked to peruse QVC and check out some Seinfeld and M.A.S.H. reruns.
At a Wildwood dance a young Florence Walsh met the late, Robert Drakeley. They were blessed with two daughters, Barbara (Jack) Batdorf and Eileen (William) Schroeder and three sons, the late Robert Richard, the late Timothy Francis and the late Dennis Michael; grandchildren: Megan (Gregg) Nessell, Donald (Kristy) DeSanto Jr., Eric (Renee) Batdorf, Kelly Lyn Schroeder, Timothy Schroeder, Dennis Drakeley, Kevin Drakeley and Matthew Huryn; great granddaughters: Lea Grace, Emelia Faith and Adeline Hope DeSanto. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Diana “Dee” Drakeley.
Come celebrate 88 great years Saturday 9-10 a.m. at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside where there will be a service at 10:30. Most sincere appreciation to the staff at Cadbury Nursing for their kind and gentle care. In lieu of flowers donations to the charity of the giver’s choice.

6 Comments

  1. Kelly Schroeder says:

    I am so grateful to have had such a wonderful person in my life growing up. She was a devoted and loving grandmother who always knew how to make her family laugh. Even in the face of chronic disease, she remained in good spirits and never lost her sense of humor. It’s comforting to know she is now free of pain, resting in peace with her beloved husband and 3 sons. She will be missed dearly by her entire family. Thanks for making the first 20 years of my life so special, Grandmom. Love you.

  2. Donald DeSanto Jr. says:

    Grandmom was a wonderful person who cared about everyone. I could not have asked for someone better to take care of me when I faked being sick to go to her house. She use to make me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a milkshake. We also use to have dinner before my basketball games when I was in college. Each time people were with her she would only talk about how great the rest of her family was. Our last dinner date was when Grandmom came to my house and cooked dinner for us and even had enough energy to dance with the kids after dinner to silly music. We were lucky to have someone like her in our lives. Enjoy seeing the rest of the family Grandmom! Love you Don and the girls.

  3. Eileen says:

    Mom, you have only been gone for a few hours now and I already wanted to pick up the phone to call you. I miss you terribly already, but I know how much you missed your boys and our Dad. I’m sure your happiness is as intense as my sorrow.

    You will forever be in my heart!!

    Love,
    Eileen

  4. Barbara Batdorf says:

    Mom, my love for you will never fade kinda like when we would call you “Sparkle Plenty”. You stood by me through thick and thin, shared the fun, laughs and many tears. I owe you everything and I will love you with all my heart forever. Living without you will leave a very deep void in my soul. I have lost my mom, my friend, my confidant and my very own Earth Angel.

    Dad, Bob, Tim and Den really miss you as do your mom, dad, brothers and sisters so I guess it is selfish not to share you with them. What a reunion that must have been!

    God Bless you and hold you in his arms. Please thank our Blessed Mother for your escort home.

    I love you…

  5. Tammi Miloszar says:

    My thoughts and prayers are with you guys! I only got to know Florence for a short time but I loved her spunk! Nothing could keep her down, she was an amazing woman, someone every woman could make her idol! She has left a mark on many people’s hearts!
    Love,
    Tammi

  6. Megan Nessell says:

    Grandma, I love you much. You were one of the strongest women I know. It is unbelievable how you survived and were happy even after the loss of your husband and three sons. You really knew how to make me happy even in the most difficult times. I will always remember our time at the shore when I lived with you on the summer. The tram car rides to eat at Groff’s for home style dinner and pie or you riding with me when I got my license to Menz’s for deviled crab and cream of asparagus soup or Tony’s for a cheesesteak or the many other places we went. You kept me company like a girlfriend when Gregg worked nights and had many meals with us. You always loved to go get a milkshake with Mercury and watch him eat ice cream. Now who will I make meals for? There are so many things you have done and taught me I can never thank you enough. I think I am even a little fiesty from your spunk. You also taught me that you should never go out without makeup because even on bad days a little lipstick makes you feel better. I can never thank you enough for everything you have done. I was wishing you could just sit on my couch one more time to watch Seinfeld reruns and give Merc some treats while I cooked dinner for us and Gregg. I love you and miss you so much. Now I have my own angel to talk to in heaven until we meet again.

    Meanwhile, I hope you are dancing, singing, eating crab cakes amd ice cream and playing slot machines with a cigarette in your mouth every day.

    May God bless you always.

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