Florence Anne Hieronymus

What a wonderful life we have shared; so many happy times and memories over 97 years! Florence Anne Hieronymus (Mazneff), born at 4:25 am on December 31, 1922, was blessed with a keen intellect and an adventurous spirit. She lived a rich and full life and was ready to say goodbye without regret or fear.
Born in Battle Creek, Michigan, Florence was the eldest child of Krum and Florence Mazneff, who immigrated to the United States after WW I and later returned to Kyustendil, Bulgaria during the Depression where young Florence quickly became fluent in Bulgarian. This was the first of the three languages she mastered in addition to English. She also learned French and Spanish; which she later taught at Cody High School in Detroit, Michigan for 20 years.
While residing in Bulgaria, her father served as the mayor of the town and as an early photo reveals she had a pony and sported a beret at a jaunty angle. Florence always had a love of fashion and flare that she never lost. She was an exceptional student and lifelong learner; earning degrees with honors from University of Michigan and her teaching credentials at Wayne State University.
She continued to pursue her linguistic studies at Middlebury College in Vermont and spent a year in Cuba before returning to the Detroit area where she worked with Sue Hieronymus at Federals Department Store and went on a blind date that ultimately changed her life. Thanks to Aunt Sue, Florence met the love of her life and lifelong partner, John T. Hieronymus during WW II. They married on June 17, 1949.
After the war the newly married couple resided in East Lansing, Michigan while John earned his degree at Michigan State University and later lived for 25 plus years in the Detroit area and suburbs of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills before relocating to Indiana in 1971. This move resulted in Florence taking an early retirement from teaching and allowed her to pursue her interests in gardening, antiques and she took up golfing; making many new friendships that she cherished for close to 40 years.
Florence was fiercely protective and steadfastly loyal to those she loved. Her children had a role model in their mother that was unusual for the times and her husband found a loving, lifelong companion that shared 75+ years until the very end. She is survived by her husband, her children Patty Macdonald and John C. Hieronymus and his spouse Laura Myers and her grandchildren Bill Macdonald, Anna Hieronymus and Jack Hieronymus and their spouses Rodger Brown and Nina Hieronymus and great grandchildren Sophia and Laura Hieronymus.
Florence passed away on March 9, 2020. The last few days had become increasingly painful but were made as comfortable as possible by the collective efforts of Caregivers at Sunrise Assisted Living and most recently the Paradigm Hospice team assembled over the weekend. Those who knew her loved and respected the special and unique person she was. We will think of her often and fondly and we were so fortunate to have such a loving and strong matriarch in our lives.
A Memorial service will be held from 10 to Noon on Saturday, May 30, 2020, at Gray Friends Church, 4810 E. 146th St. Noblesville. Burial will follow at Grey Friends Church Cemetery.