Florence Stefonich
COPPER CITY — Florence Stefonich, 67, a resident of Copper City, passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at the Omega House in Houghton.
She was born on August 25, 1940 in Crystal Falls, a daughter of the late Uno and Lillian (Rambacka) Tanskanen. She attended the Calumet High School.
She was married to Herbert “Jan” Harry in 1960 and he preceded her in death in 1991. He was the father of Jack, Steven and Kelly. She later married Joe Stefonich on August 14, 1993 on the beach at Eagle River.
Florence worked at the Johnston Cookie Factory in Milwaukee; at the Eagle River Inn as a maid and bartender, and at Toni’s Country Kitchen where she was known as the “Pasty Queen”. She was also a cleaning lady with Joann Meyers and Carol Plute.
Florence was a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church and Church Choir and a member of the Mohawk American Legion Auxiliary Post 230.
She sang in the Ecumenical Choir and also played the accordion, piano and keyboard. Florence loved to sing with her family, friends, relatives and dear grandchildren.
If you did not recognize her name it may be because she was also known as “witchy woman”, “magoo woman”, “Miss America”, “other mother”, “mother Florence”, “Lucy in disguise without diamonds”, “Luella Louise”, and Flornee”, (all said or meant endearingly of course).
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Uno, sister, Della and son, Jack Scott “Hairbear”.
Surviving are her Sweetheart husband, Joe; daughters, Kelly (Micheal) Jarvi of Gay, Tonya (Jim) Dube of Copper City; son, Steve “Cubby” Harry of Gay; grandchildren, Kali Kerttu, Taylor Kerttu, Stephanie Harry, Charlie Liikala, Tasha Rynesh and Erick Rynesh; great-grandson, Jayden Rynesh; sisters, Lori (Denis) Kinonen of Calumet, Nita Fraki of Rabbit Bay; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 1 p.m. in the Bethany Lutheran Church in Mohawk with Rev. Peter Vorhes to officiate.
Friends may call at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Mohawk on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Ahmeek.
The Erickson-Crowley Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements and friends may leave condolences for the family at ericksoncrowley.com.
