MARILYNE FLORA

Marilyne Sally Flora passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at Delnor Hospital, after being surrounded by her loving family.  Marilyne was born in the Bronx on December 8, 1945 to Winfred and Mary Freeman (nee Moscato).

Growing up, Marilyne was the oldest of her three siblings. She spent her formative years traversing her neighborhood in the Bronx with her two brothers Dan and Bill in tow.  There were always good times to be had whether they were spending time in the New York City flat they called home or visiting the Bronx Zoo which was in walking distance.  It was there, at the zoo, where Marilyne first discovered her love for biology. At the age of twelve, Marilyne and her family moved out to the country, settling in Walden, NY.  Being out of the hustle and bustle of the city suited Marilyne well. She found herself enjoying the country air and the freedom that came with wide open spaces.  While living in the country Marilyne enjoyed spending time with her pet cats and dogs. As a teen Marilyne attended Montgomery High School in Walden.  She was a natural academic, and decided that she wanted to dedicate her life to education.

After graduation Marilyne attended the State University of New York at New Paltz where she earned her bachelor’s degree in education with a focus in biology.  It was here at SUNY that Marilyne met Robert “Bob” Flora shortly before graduating. They fell in love and were married on August 10, 1968. Marilyne continued to pursue her love for higher education. Marilyne and Bob packed up what little they had and moved across the country to Chicago, IL where Marilyne attended the University of Illinois at Circle Campus, where she earned her master’s degree. After taking some post graduate courses in genetics, she also took some classes at Moody Bible Institute. 

After completing her education, Marilyne and Bob traveled back to New York, where Marilyne started her teaching career at River Head High School in Long Island, NY.  Bob was offered a job at Fermilab and that brought the couple back to IL, settling in Batavia. They decided that they wanted to build a house of their own. Marilyne never met a challenge that she couldn’t conquer, so she took it upon herself to draw up the blue prints for what would be their family home for the rest of her life.  At that time, Marilyne was pregnant with their first daughter, Linnann, who was born in 1971. While their house was being built they lived at Linn Court Apartments.  Marilyne was thoroughly involved in the process of building their new home. Not only did she draw the blueprints, but she acted as the general contractor on the job as well. Once their house was built they settled in and before they knew it, they were a family of four when Lisa was born in 1973. 

Throughout her career Marilyne held positions at numerous schools; she taught biology at Elgin Academy, Wheaton Academy, St Charles East High School, and Elgin Community College.  Her most fulfilling role was teaching anatomy and physiology at Judson College.  Over the years many former students would convey to her how much she had influenced their lives. She set a great example for her daughters, showing them what hard work looks like.  Her daughters have great memories traveling to and from school with their mother, often stopping off for a sweet treat on their way home.

Marilyne was so proud of her Italian heritage and often dreamt of traveling to Europe one day.  She was able to fulfill those dreams and made several trips to Europe.  The most notable in 1994, traveling with her daughters, she happened to introduce Linnann to her future husband.  Bob and Marilyne moved to Switzerland in 2006 where Linnann and her beautiful new family lived.  While Bob worked at CERN, Marilyne gloried in taking care of her grandchildren Sedona and Zack, and immersing herself in the culture. After three years Bob and Marilyne returned to their home in Batavia.

Marilyne struggled with her health, not that she would ever let on that she was struggling.  She made the best of every situation and never complained. She was tenacious up to her last days. In 1996 Marilyne developed Hodgkins Lymphoma which she fought with every fiber of her being and was victorious, beating it after many rounds of chemo and photon radiation therapy. She thrived for the next four years until it sadly returned. She needed high dose chemotherapy, requiring a bone marrow transplant. The treatments left her cancer free, but were hard on her, however she never let it break her spirit. Unfortunately, after this last bout with cancer, there would be lasting effects on her health that she never fully overcame.  When she was feeling well enough, she enjoyed knitting and making sweaters, blankets, and other various items for her family which they will cherish forever.  Marilyne was a testament to the human spirit, she was unbreakable.  She will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her, which was everyone she met. She was kind, smart, caring, generous and most of all loved her Lord Jesus with all her heart. She was a long time member of Christ Community Church, St. Charles Campus.

She leaves behind; her loving husband Bob of 55 years, her beloved two daughters Linnann (Pascal) Muhlemann and Lisa Flora, her two grandchildren Sedona and Zack Muhlemann, her two brothers Dan (Joy) Freeman and Bill (Carol Ann) Freeman, and her in-Laws Chaya (Shmuel) Birnbaum, Steve (Sharon Presti) Flora, Hollie (Alan) Flora-Holmquist.  She also leaves behind many beloved nephews and nieces, and a large family of friends.

Marilyne always loved to burst out in song and now she will sing to her savior forevermore. She has been reunited in Heaven with her parents Winfred and Mary Freeman, her namesake Aunt Sally Moscato, her dear Cousin Nicky Moscato, and her beloved niece Hadi Presti Flora. 

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 23, 2023 from 5-6 p.m. at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St.,Elburn, IL followed by a memorial service at 6:00PM with additional visitation after the service until 8 p.m.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 23, 2023 from 5-6 p.m. at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St.,Elburn, IL followed by a memorial service at 6:00PM with additional visitation after the service until 8 p.m.