Florence Starrett

Florence P. (Tocci) Starrett, 92, passed away Monday, August 25, 2025, after a long and courageous battle of an organic brain disease.  Even until the very end of her extremely challenging disease she would express gratitude to those who could slow down enough to listen to her responses and engage with her, while providing care, or just to visit with their loving presence.

She was born to Salvatore & Florence Tocci of New Rochelle, NY. After a high school career at St. Gabriel's Catholic High, which she & her twin sister orchestrated themselves, she began her professional career and married Robert Starrett from south Jersey, in 1955. She was predeceased by her husband, her beloved twin sister Sally (Sarah), her eldest sister Nancy, her brother Cosmo, as well as her son Stephen, and daughter Patricia (Trish). 

She is survived by her sister Delores O'Connor, several nieces, nephews, grandchildren and as many great-grandchildren. She will always be remembered as a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. After assisting her for many of her elder years, Alicia (as well as many of the folks who helped care for her throughout) affirm that she has one of the biggest, strongest & most courageous hearts she's known!

Always stridently independent, she had a long working & professional career, and was a devoted mother, grandmother & great grandmother to her multi-generational family in Farmingdale, NY, as she held family relationships in the highest of value. Florie loved both people and animals. She always enjoyed a visit to the zoo or with pets and was a frequent visitor to the Nature Center in Wyckoff, one of the many memories and experiences she shared with her twin sister Sally. Flo was always up for a walk and loved chatting about life and offering sensible advice to whomever was asking.  Always respectful of and excited to hear about others' hopes, dreams & experiences & ALWAYS offering her gentle but strong, loving care. Aunt Florie enjoyed drawing nature scenes when we would sit in the park together or simply enjoy the beauty of spring flowers but especially had a penchant for hot rod cars! She was always gracious in showing sincere gratitude for visiting with her, her face would light up when family or special friends entered her space. 

Visitation will be held Saturday, August 30, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Vander Plaat Funeral Home, Wyckoff, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Florence's name, for her love of nature and actually of bees, may be made to The Bee Conservancy https://share.google/aw28aHxsyxFVimYYc

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Florence Starrett, please visit our floral store.