Florence L. Tauriello

Florence Letitia Tauriello, 85, passed away August 22, 2019. She was born April 8, 1934 in her beloved Newport, Rhode Island to Reginald & Beatrice Dennis. Graveside Service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River from Washington, DC on October 15, 2019, 2p.m. Please meet at the Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center 45 minutes before service to be given directions. Funeral arrangements will be handled locally there by Devol Funeral Home from their Washington, DC location.

Florence is survived by her three children: Christopher, Daniel and Denise and four amazing grandchildren: Traci, Justin, Hannah & Olivia whom she loved dearly and were her pride and joy. She is preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and husband of 52 years, Frank S. Tauriello.

Florence Tauriello was a daughter, sister, wife, mother and ""Bumma"". She touched every life she came in contact with in a way that was subtle but unforgettable. She approached every day with a smile and had a zest for the simple things in life – tending to her flowers (pansies were the favorite), a walk through the neighborhood with her Yorkshire Terrier ""Sailor boy"", making her famous chocolate chip cookies with her grandchildren or having a big bowl of ""cawffee"" ice cream.

She was born and raised in Newport, Rhode Island where she also met and married her high school sweetheart. Irish Catholic family meets Italian Jewish family. We can only imagine the closed-door conversations as it became clear these two were meant to be together, despite the thoughts of anyone else. They married young, (Florence 21, Frank 20) soon after Frank was commissioned in the US Navy post-graduation from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Pre-Medicine. He was wicked smart as they say. Florence became a Navy wife, supporting Frank and their growing family while he was out to sea in the early years and through frequent moves as his career progressed to full Captain.

Frank & Florence retired to Palm Coast, Florida in 1994 from the Washington, DC area and were there until 2015 where Florence enjoyed her beautiful ""castle"" home, swimming pool and lanai full of plants and flowers.

Florence always said her favorite years were the years she was raising her children...there was no greater joy to her in life than her children and grandchildren – they filled her heart and she filled theirs.

We have lost our Matriarch; but her DNA is in us and we will honor her and carry it on – individually and collectively. We will stay close as a family and we will continue our yearly pilgrimage to Newport in the fall season, to the Ocean Cliff condo Frank & Florence loved and we now cherish. We will walk on Ocean Drive and feel her presence in the wind – we will make multiple stops to the Newport Creamery for ""Awful, Awful's"" and we will walk the streets of ""Wickford"" sensing her presence as we window shop and feel the seasons shift from Fall to Winter.

We won't say goodbye – only farewell, and we will know – our sweet Mom and Bumma, you are with us always – and us with you. One of the last things Florence said in her in-between hours was a soft, ""She can't carry it."" That's ok – because we will. Thank you for giving us the strength, determination, and grace to do so.

Florence loved animals, especially her Yorkshire Terrier Sailor Boy and Cat ""Sweetie Pie"", in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to an animal friendly charity of your choice in her honor.

Graveside Service: October 15, 2019 2:00 pm

Arlington National Cemetery

Washington, DC