Florence (Makara) Junda

Florence (nee Makara) Junda, 94, of Burlington, NC, passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Born in Clifton in 1928, Florence resided there for most of her life before moving to Burlington, North Carolina 12 years ago. She was happily married to Peter Junda for 62 years and was a loving mother to her three daughters, Susan, Mary and Kathy.

Florence was graduated from Clifton High School in 1946 and went to work in New York City for several years, instilling a love of the city that lasted a lifetime. In 1950 she married Peter Junda and raised their three daughters with love, a bit of discipline (more when needed) and lots of laughter. Later on, Florence enjoyed working as a bookkeeper for the Student Government Association at Montclair State University, where the students loved her feisty personality and quick wit. After retiring, she devoted her efforts to supporting St. Peter’s Haven for Families, for which she was honored as a recipient of the first Donald J. Fisher Service Award. Florence enjoyed traveling across the country and throughout the world, with a trip to Israel and the Holy Land especially meaningful to her. She spent her final decade at The Village at Brookwood in Burlington, NC where she met new friends who became very dear to her and was a frequent winner of weekly Tripoli card-games. And her biggest smile was when she was with her five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who gave her a lot of joy.

Florence was a deeply spiritual woman whose life was guided by her Christian faith. She was a faithful parishioner of St. John’s Orthodox Church, Passaic, and a dedicated member of the church choir, Lady’s Auxiliary and “O” Club.

Survivors include: three loving daughters, Susan Ann Junda of Albuquerque New Mexico, Mary Ellen Junda-Hutnik of West Haven, CT and Katherine Eve Rodriguez and her husband, Raymond of Burlington, NC; five grandchildren, Jason Fernandez, Jamie Field, Nikolas Hutnik and his wife, McKenzie, Aaron Rodriguez and his wife, Catherine and Amy Rodriguez; and three great-grandchildren, Jade Field, Jeryn Field and Kenton Fernandez. Her husband, Peter, son-in-law, Joseph Hutnik, and brother, George Makara, predeceased her.         

Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from 5:00-8:00 PM at Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, 170 Lexington Avenue, Passaic. Interment to follow at East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Haven, 380 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07011 or Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage, P.O. Box 8210, Pasadena, CA 91109-8210 (www.projectmexico.org).  Visit www.bizubquinlan.com to leave condolences on the Tribute Wall section of the obituary.

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