Barbara Marie Florig 1940-2025

Barb, as she was known by everyone, was born Nov. 13, 1940, to Ed and Marie Forsythe in Youngstown. She went to St. Patrick’s elementary and junior high schools, then graduated from Ursuline High School, Class of 1958. She then attended St. Thomas School of Nursing in Akron, earning her RN degree and certification in 1961. She then worked at Southside Hospital in Youngstown in the emergency and psychiatric departments as a new nurse. From the mid-1960s until 1986, she worked for Dr. JJ Anderson in Austintown as a pediatric nurse. She received her BSN from Youngstown State University in 1982, then her MSN from the University of Akron in 1986. From 1986, she worked in the pediatric cardiology department at Youngstown Northside Hospital and then, before her retirement in 2007, at Salem Pediatrics.

In 1955, Barb met the love of her life, Lefty Florig, at Ursuline High School, and they married in 1963. They were together for 60 years and celebrated their 60th anniversary on May 18, 2023. Lefty and Barb went on to have four children, Bill, Jim, John and Dan.

She was very active at St. Joseph Church in Austintown and in everything her sons did — as a den mother in Cub Scouts Action Pack 61, a team mom for Little League baseball and West Side Colts football, St. Christine’s football and track, and very active in supporting her sons and their football teams and wrestling at Ursuline High School from 1980-87.

In 2007, Barb and Lefty retired from Youngstown up to Geneva-on-the-Lake, where they traveled globally to see family in Germany, Italy and Hawaii. They were frequent travelers to Louisville, Dallas-Fort Worth, Key West, Oahu, Fort Myers and Tampa-St. Pete, Florida. They spent wonderful days on the lake with family and close friends, with innumerable parties and get-togethers

She loyally followed her beloved Ursuline and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Cleveland Browns and the Indians. She especially enjoyed her retirement attending many of her grandchildren’s football, baseball, and basketball games and ice-skating events.

Barb was predeceased by her husband, Lefty Florig; son, John; and parents, Ed and Marie.

Barb is survived by her sons, Bill (Carlina) of Tampa, Florida, Jim of Geneva-on-the-Lake and Dan (Melissa) of Hudson; daughter-in-law, Pam Florig of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren, Daniel, Jack, Matthew and Kristin; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at St. Joseph Church, 4545 New Road, Austintown. Calling hours will be 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Vaschak-Kirila Funeral Home, 3100 Canfield Road, Youngstown.

Vaschak-Kirila handled all of the arrangements for the family.

(special notice)