Laura Coffman
lorence (Flo) Kreitzberg
July 16, 1930 - March 13, 2022
Florence, “Flo” to her friends and relatives was a unique character. By observation she was very happy. She loved her family. In her younger days, she took pride in her work and enjoyed it immensely for many years. Think of Laverne & Shirley in their sitcom, as it opens - skipping down the street of Milwaukee, Wisconsin singing Sclemeel, Schlemazel, Hasenfeffer Incorporated.... Flo, would have been Laverne, and Shotz Bar & Brewery would have been the furniture and mattress store where Flo worked. I believe she enjoyed little snippets of songs that she probably remembered from her youth. I can imagine when she got up in the mornings, she would be singing to herself, “Oh how I hate to get up in the morning” and after she had her morning coffee, she might sing, “Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go!” That’s what I envision. After her shift I heard Flo’s gal pal say that she would oft’times sing, “Show me the way to go home, I'm tired and I wanna go to bed.” Truthfully, she loved her work, and she enjoyed her friends very much throughout the years. I can only imagine Flo was witty and could come out with some zingers if the occasion called for it; she could hold her own in conversations.
I met Flo in the 1980s through the Kreitzberg family. On occasion, I would see her either in California or New Jersey. Not often mind you, but when I did, I always got a kick out of the way she would say my name... L-orrr-a with that New Jersey accent. Yes, to me she did have an accent. Flo had the kind of accent that very much reminded me of Fran Drescher, who played The Nanny in a sitcom on TV, and I just thought it was hilarious in an endearing sort of way.
There’s so much more to be added to Flo Kreitzberg’s story, this was just a little taste from an acquaintance who enjoyed knowing her. I will miss her but when I think of her, it will always be with a smile and good thoughts.
Laura Coffman