Florence V Cleofe

Florence Graida Verdan was born on April 23, 1947 in Atimonan, Quezon Province, the Philippines. She was born to Vicente and Gracia Verdan and was one of 8 children: Soledad, Juliana, Mario, Melchior, Florence, Divina, Felisa, and Filipina.

She married Juancho Cleofe on June 24, 1967. As a navy wife, she and her husband travelled from navy station to navy station throughout the United States; living in Long Beach, CA; Vallejo, CA; Guam; Waukegan, Illinois; and San Pedro, CA. They finally purchased a home and settled in Port Orchard, WA in June of 1981. Along the way, they had 3 sons: Jessie, Floyd, and Endo.

As her children grew up, Florence went back to work as a certified nurse’s assistant at various nursing homes. She loved to care for the sick and elderly and was always there to give comfort and time to any patients without family.

Florence loved to garden. Her flower garden in Guam won several awards. In Port Orchard, she added a fruit garden to her various flowers. Of course, her favorite flower was any yellow flower, most notably yellow tulips.

Florence loved to eat good food and entertain friends and family. Her favorites were any Filipino food and seafood. Any visitor (family, neighbor, friend, her husband’s old shipmates, friends of her kids) were treated to her wonderful smile and hospitality. There was always time, companionship, and food for all.

Most of all, Florence loved her family. The tough choices to leave her family in the Philippines and to start her family in America were all about providing a better life for her children. The early years were a struggle. She adapted to a new language, adapted to a new culture, and survived raising 3 sons while her husband was deployed to sea for 6 month stretches. Watching her children grow, start careers, and get married; Florence realized her hard work and sacrifice had paid off as her children started families of their own. She absolutely cherished her grandchildren: Isabel, Ender, Mateo, and Jason.

Whether they were blood relatives, extended family, neighbors, or friends; they were all family.

See below for the following funeral services:

Friday (6/3):
Viewing at Rill Chapel
1151 Mitchell Ave.
Port Orchard, WA 98366
11:00am-5:00pm

Saturday (6/4):
St. Gabriel Catholic Church
1150 MITCHELL AVE., PORT ORCHARD, WA 98366
Viewing - 9:00am
Rosary Prayer - 10:30am
Funeral Mass - 11:00am
Reception in the Education Wing - 12:00pm

Monday (6/6):
Burial at Sunset Lane Memorial Park
1000 Bethel Ave.
Port Orchard, WA 98366
11:00am-11:30am

In lieu of flowers, a donation made in Florence’s name to your favorite charity or to the Olympic Peninsula Kidney Center would be appreciated.