FELICIONE, Flora “Flo” Alleyene

Flora “Flo” Alleyene Felicione, 81, passed away on August 4, 2021, in Tampa, FL, with her loving family by her side. She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Joseph Saverio Felicione; her former husband, Wilbert Paul Vensel; her daughter, Stephonie Lynn Toner; siblings, Alonzo Michael Gonzalez, Raymond Joseph Gonzalez, and Rosemary Grace Gonzalez; and her parents, Alonzo Michael Gonzalez and Flora Alleyene Schmoker.

Flo was born on July 16, 1940, in Pittsburgh, PA. She moved to Tampa at the age of 18. Following the death of her first husband, she worked as a criminal defense paralegal and graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development. Being a second grade teacher for 25 years was one of the great joys of her life.  After meeting her husband, Joe, she became a certified scuba diver.  A few years later, she began snow skiing. They spent summers in Key West and winters in Crested Butte. Flo loved to travel and treasured every precious memory and adventure from destinations such as Mexico, Europe, Africa, Canada, the Bahamas, and Alaska.  She had a passion for politics that spanned six decades. She attended protests, marches, and rallies, belonged to numerous organizations, held leadership positions, and did volunteer work. Flo was a social butterfly who loved parties, people, a martini at happy hour, and living life to the fullest. A philanthropist, a business woman, an entrepreneur, an artist, a free spirit, an environmentalist, an educator, and a student of life, Flo was a true renaissance woman. But the most important thing in her life was her family, who she loved with all of her heart.

She is survived by her sons, Michael Paul Vensel and Stephen Gregory Vensel, Sr.; grandchildren, Angela Marie Vensel, Stephen Gregory Vensel, Jr., Skyler Lee Vensel, and Tyler Shelton Vensel; great grandchildren, Savanah Lynn Page Vensel, Sophia Marie Vensel, and Robby Jay Vensel; siblings, Mary Eleanor Painter, Catherine Margaret Wiefling, Michael Raphael Schmoker, Judith Ann Holden, Paul John Gonzalez, and Joseph Aloysius Gonzalez; as well as many other family and friends who loved her dearly.  A celebration of life will be held in her home as per her wishes.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ACLU or the Sierra Club.