Florence E. Conner

SARATOGA SPRINGS Florence E. Conner, 93, died Thursday, July 10, 2008, in the Saratoga Care Nursing Home at Saratoga Hospital. She was born in May 1915, in County Offaly, Ireland, where her father, Alfred Fletcher, was a farmer. Her mother was Bessie Hayes Fletcher. She grew up on the farm, moving as a young woman to England, where she worked in child care. She lived in London toward the end of World War II, when it was under attack from V1 and V2 flying bombs and rockets. She was employed in the early 1950s by Robert C. Conner, who worked for Pan American World Airways at Heathrow Airport near London, and married him a decade later. They lived in Woking, Surrey, England, moving to Amityville, Long Island, in the late 1970s when he worked for Pan Am at New York's Kennedy Airport. They moved to Bradenton, Fla., in the early 1980s and to Saratoga County in the late 1990s. He died in 2005. Throughout her life, Florence's rapport with children resulted in lasting friendships. She also remained close to her Irish family. She was an excellent cook, an accomplished knitter and had a green thumb. A loving, gracious and hard-working home-maker, Florence was also an intrepid sailor and traveler. In late 2005, she moved into the nursing home, where her positive spirit endured. Her family is grateful for the loving care she received there from staffers including Rachel, Christine, Kweilyn, MaryAnn, Sean, Sue, and others. Survivors include stepchildren, Christina Arber, of Shipley, Yorkshire, England, and Robert C. Conner Jr. and wife, Barbara, of Malta, N.Y.; stepgrandchildren: Mary, Michael, Kathleen, Patrick, John, Molly and Thomas; stepgreat-grandchildren: Samuel, Jude, William, Florence and Marjorie; and several nieces, nephews and their families. A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, July 18, at Ballston Spa Presbyterian Church, 22 West High St., with the Rev. David Bennett, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at 11 a.m. at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville. There are no calling hours, but there will be a luncheon after the ceremonies at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Conner Jr. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to either the Ballston Spa Presbyterian Church, or to a charity benefiting children such as Boys Hope Girls Hope or CARE for the Child. Arrangements by Armer Funeral Home, Inc., 39 East High St., Ballston Spa.