LITCHFIELD – Florence Audrey (Berry) Slattery, 90, passed away on June 12, 2022 at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta. As her family says goodbye, we are comforted by the idea that she will be met with open arms by the love of her life, reunited after seventeen months apart.

Florence was born Dec. 10, 1931 in Litchfield to Clarence and Gwenola (McGee) Berry. She attended Litchfield schools with her sisters and helped her father and grandparents on the farm.

She attended business school in Augusta before her father’s death found her and her husband, Carl, responsible for continuing the family farm. Carl had come to work on the farm when she was in school, and they were married on March 28, 1952 after Carl returned from his service in Korea. They had two children, Bruce and Bethany, and despite the intense schedule that farm life demands, the family was very dedicated to their town.

Florence was a lifetime member of the Litchfield Auxiliary, and both Carl and Florence served on the executive board of the Litchfield Fair. Repeated injury forced Carl and Florence to sell the farm in 1980 when Florence (not one to sit still) continued her 20-plus year career of working (on and off) at the town office in her retirement.

Florence and Carl spent their free time together going to dances, motorcycling, RV-ing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. They traveled much of the country by motorcycle and then RV with close friends, with later years limiting their journeys to in-state weekend camping. Both their camping crew and snowmobile friends were like another family to them.

Florence enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, baking, and mostly spending time with her family. She was a jovial Uno player with her great-grandchildren, a clever Spades partner, and a vicious scrabble player against the rest of us. Her family will remember her love of sweet treats, ice cream especially, her witty sense of humor, her worrisome nature, and her deep love and devotion to them. There were few ways Florence let her family dote on her, but she never denied the offer of a back rub..

Florence was predeceased by all of her sisters Marie, Muriel, Frances, and Ardis; her son-in-law, Cliff; and grandson-in-law, Dan.

Florence leaves behind a family that loved her endlessly, son, Bruce Slattery and wife Pat Slattery of Litchfield and daughter, Bethany Slattery Mortimer of Bowdoinham; granddaughters Jamie Houghton of Whitefield, Jessica Sullivan of Bowdoinham, Elyzabeth Quintero of Freeport, Katherine Slattery-Seaman of Litchfield, and Kim Benjamin of Portland, all of whom called her “Gram” for many years, until great-grandchildren came into the picture and then she was promoted to “GG” by all. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

Our family would also like to thank the staff from the Maine Veterans Home who gave Florence the utmost kind and compassionate care for almost a year. They offered her a warm welcome and treated her like family from start to finish, and we are truly grateful.

There will be a graveside service on Saturday July 9 at 12:30 p.m. at the Litchfield Plains Cemetery. A Celebration of Life at the Legion Hall in Litchfield will follow.

Arrangements are under the care of Kincer Funeral Home, 130 Pleasant St., Richmond, ME 04357.

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