Obituary of Florence Grey

Florence “Flo” Grey (Gavel) passed away peacefully on June 12, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family, following a brief illness. Her unwavering strength, kindness, and sense of humor remained with her until the very end. Flo was born on 4/18/1929 and was raised in South Buffalo. She was the beloved daughter of the late Joseph Gavel and Florence (Hollarn) Gavel. A proud graduate of South Park High School, Flo held her South Buffalo roots close to her heart throughout her life. Though she moved to West Seneca in 1952, her love for South Buffalo—its people, spirit, and stories—remained a guiding part of who she was. Flo was the heart of her family. She had an enormous circle of lifelong friends, many of whom predeceased her, and she often spoke about how much she missed them. Flo loved to travel and explore new places, but what she cherished most was being surrounded by family, neighbors, and friends. Her door was always open and her laughter was infectious. She brought joy to everyone she met, and her warmth left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Flo was the devoted mother of Colleen (Bob Topka) Jackson, Bill (Joanne Mailhoit) Grey, and Sandie (George) Doran. She was a proud and loving grandmother to Kevin Jackson and Dana (Aaron) Russell. She was the dear sister of the late Catherine Duringer, the late Jean Merkling, and the late Arlene Clifford, and is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to attend visitation on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the James W. Cannan Funeral Home, Inc., 3155 Orchard Park Road, Orchard Park, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 9:30 AM at St. Teresa’s Roman Catholic Church, 1974 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY 14210. Please assemble at church. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made in Flo’s name to: The GreenFields Health and Rehabilitation Center 5959 Broadway Street Lancaster, NY 14086