CAMDEN — Florence E. Householder, beloved wife of Richard W. Householder passed away on July 7, 2025. Florence was born on May 1, 1933 in the Bronx, New York City, the daughter of Rudoph and Anita Haas, the youngest of three children. She attended primary and secondary schools on Long Island, New York.

While a student at Sewanhaka High Schools, she attended New York University as a recipient of three consecutive journalism grants from New York State Council of Arts.

Florence was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and later in life, a stepmother. Her family was always the most important part of her life, raising four children with unwavering devotion and dedication.

During this period of time when her children were young, Florence actively engaged in ballet under the direction of Andre Englevski from the N.Y.C. Ballet Company.

She instilled a love for reading by signing her children up for the library book club every summer. The library was her favorite place.

In 1978, Florence found her soul mate and the meaning of true love and married Richard W. Householder and moving to Missouri where they lived for sixteen years.

In 1994, Richard retired, Florence truly found herself when they moved to Camden, that is alongside the ocean that she always loved. There she created a beautiful Victorian home, joined a creative writing group and actively engaged in church activity at the John Street United Methodist Church. She loved the Camden Library and spent many hours there.

Surviving is her best and loving friend and husband, Richard W. Householder; her eldest son, Shawn Simon (Naples, FL), granddaughter, Sarah Simon (NJ), great-granddaughters, Isabell Simon, granddaughter, Lauren (Matt) D’Amico, great-grandsons, Nicholas and Liberato D’amico (Ventnor City, NJ); daughter, Sherry Strassman, granddaughter, Danielle Strassman (Roscoe, NY) grandson, Matt Strassman (Queens, NYC);  second son, Spencer (Mary) Simon, grandson, Justin Simon, granddaughter, Briana Simon (East Northport, NY); third and youngest son, Stuart Simson (Phoenix, AZ).

Florence’s extended family members are: Susan Gutierrez (Saint Peters, MO) granddaughter, Katie (Andrea Gussie Glik) Gutierrez, great grandson, Leo Gutierrez-Gilk (Saint Louis, MO), granddaughter, Sara (Kyle) Ray, great-grandsons, Evan and Mason Ray, great- granddaughter, Harper Ray (St. Louis, MO).

A Celebration of her life followed by a reception will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10 a.m., at the John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden. Private family burial will be in the Seaview Cemetery in Rockport.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Camden Public Library or to the John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden.

Condolences may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.