Florence C. Tugend

Florence C. Tugend, 96, of Clarks Summit, died peacefully at The Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania in Scranton on June 5, 2016.

Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Anna Schmidt Tugend. She was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Tugend, and a sister, Anna Jury.

She was a graduate of Dalton High School and went on to receive her eaching degree from Bloomsburg State Teachers College, currently loomsburg University. A passionate and dedicated teacher, she taught briefly at Glenburn Elementary School before transferring to Grove Street Elementary School, where she completed her thirty-five year career. Following retirement from teaching, Florence spent summers in the Thousand Islands, residing in Point Vivian, NY on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Each summer season in the nearby town of Alexandria Bay, she operated the Market Street Gallery, an old-time portrait studio, for twenty-seven years.

She was a lifelong music lover. Largely self-taught on the piano as a child, she would become a church organist and she continued to play the piano until a week before her passing. Her family is grateful to the Jewish Home for positioning the facility's piano on Florence's floor for her convenience.

Perhaps, she will be remembered most as an extraordinary and devoted aunt to her nieces and nephews. Called "Tink" by her older sister, the nickname was transformed to "Nink" by her first nephew struggling with the "T." And so it has remained for three generations of nieces and nephews. There was an abundance of good reasons why they would shower Nink with cards and gifts on each Mother's Day.

Surviving are niece Lynne Jury Isenbarger and husband Dave, Dan Jury and partner Mindy Jury, Richard Jury, Mark Jury and wife Dee, also eleven great nieces and nephews and twelve great-great nieces and nephews. Also, first cousins Betty Rowlands, Audrey Cecchetelli, Clair Wagner, Vivian Smith and Judy Jones.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Jewish Home for their excellent, compassionate care, particularly the nurses and aides on the second floor.

A funeral service and interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gary Steier Scholarship Memorial Fund at any NBT Bank location or mailed to NBT Bank, 318 E Grove Street, Clarks Green, PA 18411. The fund is used for students in the Abington Heights School District interested in pursuing degrees in elementary education.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 418 S. State St. Clarks Summit Pa. 18411.