Florence Marian Wilkosz, age 86 of Manistee, MI passed away peacefully in her sleep from complications of pneumonia on Sunday, February 19, 2017 in Lakeland, FL, surrounded by her family. She was born Sept. 1, 1930 in Manistee, MI and was the oldest daughter of the Stanley J. Wilkosz, Sr. & Blanche Pelagia (Modrzejewski) Wilkosz.

Florence attended LaSalle Elementary School and was a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Manistee with the class of 1949. She attended Muskegon School of Business and worked for many years as a secretary for Hardy Salt Company in Manistee and Harbison Walker Refractories in Detroit before retiring back to Manistee.

She was a member of Divine Mercy Parish (St. Joseph Church), the St. Joseph Rosary Society, National Association of Secretaries, Salt City Unit 43 of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, the National Rifle Association and the Grant Township Neighborhood Watch. Her interests spanned a wide variety of areas including bird watching, gardening, antiquing and going to yard sales. She was also an avid reader on many topics. She was very interested in local Grant Township government and seldom missed a township meeting. Her love of nature and animals sparked her dedication to conservation and natural resources. She erected numerous birdhouses and planted trees on the family farm. She also enjoyed watching her nieces and nephews participate in school activities, horse shows and car races. She adopted many cats over the years and leaves behind her most recent feline friends, Skeeter and Popper.

Florence is survived by her sister in law: Rose Ann (Bill) Wilkosz and their children, Michael (Annette), John (Judy), Mary Wilkosz, Ann (Michael) Pachesny; her brother, Stanley Jr. (Barbara) Wilkosz and their children, Becky (Ken) Sommerdyke and Suzy (Dan) Hylan; brother Tony (Patricia) Wilkosz and their children, Todd and Craig; sister Rosemary (George) McLaughlin and children, Brian (Rose Ann) McLaughlin, Scott (Jessy) McLaughlin, Laura (David) Varga and Sharon McLaughlin; and sister Mary Ann (James) (Don Zingarelli) Cole and children, Deborah Cole and Theresa Warren; Numerous great nieces & nephews also survive her

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Wilkosz and 2 brothers-in-law, James Cole and Don Zingarelli.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Divine Mercy Parish St. Joseph Catholic Church in Manistee with Rev. Richard Schaeffer celebrant. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery also in Manistee.

Family and friends will pray the Rosary at 7:00 PM Friday evening at Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee and will be at the funeral home from 5:00 PM until the Rosary service at 7 to receive friends. The family will also be at the church one hour prior to Florence's funeral Mass on Saturday to receive friends.

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of funeral arrangements.