Obituary of Florence Helen Hamilton (Yanuska)

Florence Helen (Yanuska) Hamilton passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 24, 2023 at her home in Sun City, Arizona after a long battle with dementia. She was born in 1935 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of immigrants, Thomas Yanuska (from Lithuania) and Helen Yanuska (from Poland), and graduated from Commerce High School in Worcester.

She was the devoted wife of Robert “Bob” Hamilton for 67 years, whom she married in 1956. Growing up as an only child, Florence was lovingly welcomed into the large Hamilton family and adored by Bob’s parents and 9 siblings.

In 1976, Florence and Bob moved to Litchfield, New Hampshire and raised their two sons, Jeff and Keith. A constant presence in the bleachers on game day, Florence loved cheering for her sons and their teammates during their baseball and soccer games. She never complained when she was given the undesirable task of playing sole outfielder and running all over the field to retrieve the baseballs when her kids wanted batting practice. As her sons got older and left for college, Florence’s passion for reading led to her dream job of working at the Litchfield Public Library from 1991-2001 where she could share her love of books with the community, and get first dibs on new book releases.

Despite moving to Arizona in 2013, Florence remained a proud New Englander at heart. She was a passionate Patriots fan and although not confirmed, her family suspects that whenever they played the New York Jets, her yelling at the television could be heard all the way across the country at Gillette Stadium.

Always by each other’s side throughout life, and even in her declining health, Florence and Bob would lovingly proclaim that they were still having fun together (we’ll miss you terribly, kiddo).

She is survived by her husband, Bob Hamilton of Sun City, AZ; her son Jeff Hamilton of Phoenix, AZ; her son Keith Hamilton, his wife Maggie, and her beloved grandchildren John, Peter, and Katherine Hamilton all of Pittsburgh, PA; many nieces and nephews; and her dear friend since 7th grade (and sister-in-law), Dorothy Vallee of Millbury, MA.

For those who wish, the family suggests memorial donations in Florence’s memory be made to the Humane Society (http://www.humanesociety.org), or any local rescue shelter, as a tribute to her love for animals (including the skunk that Bob brought home one day in 1984).