With deep sorrow and much love, we mourn the passing of Florence Margaret (Van Bergen) Wukovich on January 9, 2026. Through her journey of 93 years, she touched many lives with her love and acceptance, and was a daily reminder to all of us to celebrate our daily blessings – big and small. She was a rare person who had a huge impact on many lives and communities while at the same time never seeking recognition or making comparisons.
Florence was the beloved wife of Nick (deceased), mother of George N. (Cheryl), Michael G. (Constance L.), Marilyn J. Brannen (Daniel), Hilary M., and Steven E., grandmother of 15 grandchildren, great grandmother of 11, daughter of Frank and Marcella (Wagner) Van Bergen (deceased), sister to Jeanne Van Bergen (deceased), Rosemary Busher (deceased), Phylis McNally (deceased), Fr. Francis Van Bergen (deceased), and Edward Van Bergen.
In addition to dedicating herself to being an incredible wife and mother, Florence also chose to build a work life around her family. She was very proud of the jobs she chose as an IBM punch card operator and a school bus driver in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and North Olmsted. Once her children had all graduated from high school, she studied to receive her nursing certificate from Fairview General Hospital at 53 and worked as a registered nurse. After a year as a floor nurse, she worked at Home Health Care for eight years. Throughout her life, she enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and friends, sewing, quilting, and making vestments for Fr. Franics Van Bergen to send to churches in Vietnam. After retiring to Florida with Nick, Florence became an active member of the St. Andrew Council of Catholic Women (her contributions to the yearly tea party were always much anticipated). In her later years, she chose to move to Gettysburg, PA, to join her daughter Marilyn’s family and her daughter Hilary.
A Memorial Mass celebrating Florence’s beautiful life will be held on Monday, January 19, at 10 am at St. Francis Xavier Historic Church in Gettysburg, PA. We invite all who knew and loved Florence to join us in honoring her memory. The Monahan Funeral Home is assisting the family with funeral arrangements, and online condolences may be made at monahanfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to honor Florence’s love of “The Green Cathedral” that surrounds us here, and that brought her daily joy, with a donation to Strawberry Hill Foundation. Please visit www.strawberryhill.org to donate online.
A separate celebration of life for Florence and Nick Wukovich will be scheduled for a future date in Cleveland, OH.