Joan D. Flora

Flora, Joan Dorothy January 14, 2018 Age 83. Born November 17, 1934 in Grand Rapids, MI to the late Joseph and Dorothy Stranz. Beloved wife of the late Phillip. Loving mother Cherie (Michael) Grzych, Philip(Lisa) Flora Jr., Scott (Nancy) Flora and Chris Flora. Grandmother of Michael Grzych II, Hayley Grzych, Katie (Ted) Falkner, Sarah (John) Ruggles and Laura (Justin) Page. Great-grandmother of 5. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Dear sister of the late John (Marilyn) Stranz, Florence (Frederick) Franzen and Jerry (Lois) Stranz. Known to friends and family as “Jo”, Joan was a homemaker and stay at home mom, married for nearly 40 years when her husband preceded her in death at the age of 61. She raised their four young children mainly on her own as Phil traveled for work. In 1970 Phil decided to start his own business out of the family home in Novi, Jo pitched in and was his office staff. While she wasn’t college educated, she was bright and social and a confident hard worker. The word “failure” was never in her vocabulary and it seemed she mastered nearly everything she ever tried. Phil’s business went on to be very successful and they were able to live The Great American Dream. A member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Novi for more than 40 years. Jo also loved music and sang in the church choir until the past four years. In 1976, Jo and Phil became members at Meadowbrook Country Club in Northville, where she learned to play golf and excelled at the sport. Jo was also a member of the Junior Goodwill in Detroit. She was a talented seamstress, quilter and knitter, sewing many of her own clothes for most of her life and was always happy to help out a friend in need of an alteration. It was a gift that she handed down to her daughter and granddaughter. For more than 28 years, Jo belonged to a small group of ladies that called themselves “The Gourmet Sewing Club” gathering monthly to spend a day knitting and stitching and enjoying a gourmet lunch in the home of that particular month’s hostess. Jo was also a volunteer at Providence Park Hospital in Novi and she belonged to a group that knitted items to raise funds for the Assarian Cancer Center there. Visitation 4-8 pm Thursday, January 18, 2018 at the O’Brien/Sullivan Funeral Home 41555 Grand River Ave Novi 248 348 1800. Rosary 7pm Thursday. In-state 10 am Friday, January 19, 2018 at Holy Family Catholic Church 24505 Meadowbrook Rd. Novi with funeral mass at 10:30 am. Interment Oakland Hills Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be directed to Assarian Cancer Center or The Medical Team Hospice. Expressions of sympathy www.obriensullivanfuneralhome.com

Joan D. Flora

November 17, 1934 - January 14, 2018