Florence D. Ortell

Racine- Florence D. Ortell, 85, passed away in Kenosha at Hospitality Manor on Wednesday, August 1, 2007. Florence was born in Milwaukee on February 5, 1922, to the late John and Florence (nee: Gauchel) Beau. A 1939 graduate of St. Catherine’s High School, she went on to attend St. Albertus College of Racine where she earned her teaching certificate. She went on to teach in Kaukauna schools for the next 2 years. On June 22, 1944, she married Amariah Ortell in St. Edward’s Catholic Church He preceded her in death on February 23, 1976. Florence retired from St. Luke’s Hospital in 1987 after serving as head cashier for 17 years. Catholic by faith, she was a member of St. Mary’s by the Lake Catholic Church. Florence had also been a proud member of Christian Mothers and Altar Society, Ladies Auxiliary VFW, and the All Saints Healthcare Volunteers in Partnership. Among her interests, she enjoyed playing cards, knitting hats for newborn infants at the hospital, cooking, gardening, and traveling with her longtime friend, Iris Brown. She was an avid letter writer and maintained a life-long friendship with Martha Jacobs of Kaukauna, largely through these letters. Florence was a dedicated blood donor, having donated well over 8 gallons in her lifetime. Constantly concerned about our environment, she had a great gift of recycling just about everything. Above all, she always placed her family as priority one in life and loved being in their surroundings. Surviving are her daughters, Linda (John) Schmidt of Pleasant Prairie and Denise (Kenneth) Everson of Janesville; grandchildren, Paul (Barbara) Schmidt, Eric Everson, Greg Everson, and Karen Schmidt; great-grandsons, Andrew Schmidt and Gage Everson; and by other special relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Claudine Carnell. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 6, 2007, in St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Ave., at 2:00 pm with Rev. Jeffrey M. Thielen officiating. Interment will follow in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will in the church on Monday from 1-2 pm. In memory of Florence, memorials to the Wheaton Franciscan – All Saints Healthcare Volunteers in Partnership has been suggested.