Keener

Florence “Flo” Mae Keener, 93, of Butler passed away Monday after a long illness with her daughter, Barbara Mitchell, at her side.

Florence had lived at St. John Specialty Care Center for the past seven years before her passing.

She was born in Lambert, Pa., and moved to Butler as a new bride in the 1940s. Flo spent most of her years in Butler living in the Deshon area.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ira B. Keener Jr.

She is survived by a daughter, Barbara Mitchell and her husband, Thomas, of Butler, and two sons, Ira B. Keener III and his wife, Karen, of Naperville, Ill. and Roger Keener of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Additionally, she is survived by a brother, John Kelly of Illinois; four grandchildren, W. George Miller of Butler, Brad Price, Korina London and Ira M. Keener, all of Naperville, Ill.; along with many nieces and nephews and five great-grandchildren.

Flo was a founding member of the Trinity United Presbyterian Church and served the church in many roles well into her 60s. She was also a longtime member of the former Maqueda Chapter 421 Order of the Eastern Star, the White Shrine of Jerusalem 32 and the Order of the Amaranth. She did whatever was necessary to help support her family. She helped support her siblings in the coal mining area of Lambert.

Flo worked in the steel mill during the war, in the Butler School District and at Butler Memorial Hospital. She also volunteered at the VA hospital.

Flo lived a full life filled with family and friends. She always had a smile on her face and a cheerful greeting for anyone she encountered. Throughout her life, Flo never had a bad word to say about anyone, and she relied on her faith to guide her through life. She taught her children the values needed to navigate through life; giving up luxuries for herself to provide something for her children. Flo would want her friends to rejoice in her memory rather and mourn her passing.

KEENER — Friends of Florence “Flo” Mae Keener, who passed away Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with Pastor Dennis Molnar of the Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church in Greensburg, Pa., officiating. Burial will take place in the Rose Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Florence’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater PA, Pittsburgh Office, 1100 Liberty Ave., Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or to the American Cancer Society, Greater Pittsburgh, 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.

Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.