Florence T. Kuhn

Florence T. Kuhn, née Squeo (aka Flo, Flemie, Auntie Flem, Noni, Mother Kuhn, Grandma Kuhn) passed away peacefully at age 103 early on the morning of August 8th, 2026. She was surrounded by her daughters and granddaughters. 

Florence was born at home to Italian immigrants Joseph and Vincenza Squeo, on December 2nd, 1922 in Chicago, IL. She was the first of five children. Florence graduated from Foreman High School in 1941, and afterwards worked in downtown Chicago as a secretary and mastered the Gregg Shorthand system. 

She was engaged to Joseph Crist who gave his life serving the United States of America during WWII. They had known each other since childhood. 

Later, while working in Chicago, she met her future husband Werner F. Kuhn who worked in the same building. He thought she looked like Sophia Loren. They married on September 4, 1949. Throughout their marriage, they lived in many places including Des Moines, IA, Monticello, IN, Bonn, Germany, Logansport, IN and Indianapolis, IN. 

Florence and Werner had three daughters, Pamela, Lisa, Linda; “one more beautiful than the next,” as she was fond of saying. Florence was a dedicated mother who endured countless camping and skiing trips, which were outside her comfort zone, in order to enrich her daughters with many experiences. 

In 1972, she moved back to Chicago, IL. Two years later she moved to Itasca, IL where she lived for 49 years. She worked as a secretary at Bachi Company in Itasca until she retired in 1988. 

Florence spent her time in retirement traveling around the United States with friends and family. Throughout the years, she remained in contact with her Italian relatives. In 2001, she toured all around Italy with her daughters and their families, where they embraced their long lost cousins. 

She was an active member of the Itasca Senior Club and for years, regularly attended Senior Exercise at the local community center. She loved to read and was a dedicated patron of the Itasca Community Library and could recount the storyline so accurately that you felt as though you’d read the book! Cooking for her family and making sure that everyone always got enough to eat was a priority of hers. Her recipes will continue to be enjoyed by her family. 

Florence never met a stranger and would chat to anyone, easily finding common threads of connection. She maintained contact and corresponded often with friends and family, was an excellent letter writer, and kept journals of her travels. 

Florence wasn’t shy about how hard it was to get old and would advise anyone: “don’t get old,” yet she never complained. She faced the final chapters of her long life with incredible strength, independence, endurance, kindness, and humor. 

For the last three years of her life, Florence lived at Sunrise of Bloomingdale in Bloomingdale, IL and was a beloved resident. 

She is preceded in death by her father Joseph Squeo, mother Vincenza Squeo, née Menduni, and sisters: Mary Todoric, Rose DiPuma, Connie Roszak, nephew Ronny Roszak, and her dear sister-in-law MaryAnn Squeo. 

Florence is survived by her daughters Pamela (Robert Legacy) Kuhn of Carmel, IN, Lisa (Fernando) Trevino of Bartlett, IL, and Linda (Brian Rudolph) Kuhn of Oregon, WI as well as her granddaughters Katrina and Katherinne Rudolph, and brother Guy Squeo. She will be missed by her nieces Carol DeFazio, Lynn Kearins, Sue Buonavolanto, Cathy Squeo, Gina Roszak, San Kuhn, Lara Kuhn, and nephews Jack DiPuma and Guy Squeo. Michela (Salvatore and Filippo), Gabriella, and Giacomo DellaVella hold her close in their hearts in Italy. She was a cherished great auntie, step grandmother, and step great grandmother.