Obituary of Mariann Knirsch-Florence

Mariann Knirsch-Florence 55 formally of New York, NY, died peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 after a four year battle with cancer. Born in Manhattan on October 20, 1960, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Barbara (Taylor) Knirsch. Mariann (Anna) retired from IBM in 2004 where she worked at IBM as an Advisory Engineer. She earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College in 1982. She attended St. Martin de Porres Church. Mariann was a world traveler and fulfilled her lifelong dream of living in Europe. She did so from 1994 to 2004 where she lived and worked in Boblingen Germany. She spoke fluent German, French, Italian and a little Russian. She enjoyed playing Tenor Saxophone in the Musikverein Walddorf Orchestra. She spent most of her retirement years creating new craft concepts from pop-up cards to accent wall creations. She played keyboards in several local cover bands and enjoyed interior design in her home. Mariann is survived by her husband Robert F. Florence Jr. of LaGrange and cats Burkina and Trixie, Step daughter Genna Waller and husband Chris and grandson Caleb of Poughkeepsie, sister Dawn-Marie Blasl and husband Michael Blasl and family of Chatham, NY, her Aunt Mary Rath and cousin Charles Rath and family of San Jose, California. Family will receive friends on Saturday April 16,2016 from 1pm until 4pm at Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. A memorial service will be held on the same day at 3:30pm. Memorial donations may be made to Bruckner Oncology, 2330 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10469 http://www.bruckneroncology.com/