Florence “Flossie” Brownstein passed away on August 29, 2026, at the age of 96. Flossie was loved by all who knew her. She was known for her kindness, warmth, humor, generosity, and abundant energy.

Flossie was born as Florence Rosenberg on January 6, 1930, at Third and Catherine Streets in what is now called Queen Village in South Philadelphia. She grew up in a house brimming with family -- her parents (Becky and Sam), her brother (Marvin), her grandparents, and many aunts and uncles. She spent summers in Atlantic City with her grandparents, and she had a lifelong love for the Jersey shore.

In 1947, just after the end of World War II, Flossie graduated from West Philadelphia High School, which was the premier public high school in Philly. After graduating, Flossie worked as an order-taker at West Wholesale Drug Company until she married Norman Brownstein in 1952. Flossie and Norman were married for 57 years, until he passed away on January 8, 2010.

The center of Flossie’s world was her family. Flossie and Norman had four children (Barbara, Pamela, Rhonda, and Bruce), ten grandchildren (Scott, Chad, Jason, Rachael, David, Brian, Adrianne, Julia, Jared, and Alex); nine great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild. Flossie loved all of them, and they adored her. Even in her 80s, she played games with the little ones, attended their celebrations, and always remembered to send them birthday cards with a little cash inside. She was loving, caring, supportive and non-judgmental. Flossie was also close with her aunts, uncles, and cousins, and for many years was the center of the Cohen family, hosting the large annual Passover seders in her tiny basement in NE Philly.

Flossie was passionate about her synagogue and the Jewish community. She and Norman were among the original members of the Rhawnhurst Jewish Center, later renamed Adath Tikvah. While the synagogue was being built in the 1950’s, they attended services in a tent, and Flossie taught Sunday School in the basement of their home. Flossie attended the very first meeting of the synagogue’s Sisterhood in the basement of the Bell’s Corner Tavern, a Revolutionary War-era bar. For forty-six years, Flossie served on the synagogue’s executive board, chaired many synagogue committees, ran the gift-shop, and was the Sisterhood president.

Flossie was very smart and always excelled in school. Her dream was to become a nurse. In 1983, at the age of 53, she fulfilled that dream and started nursing school at Albert Einstein Nursing School. She graduated in 1986, became a Registered Nurse at age 56, and worked for ten years at Friends Psychiatric Hospital until her retirement in 1996 to help take care of her mother, Becky. Becky died in 1997, also at the age of 96.

Throughout her life, Flossie served others in need. In addition to her decades of work as a volunteer for the synagogue, she was a reading tutor at Farrell Elementary School, a volunteer with the Friends of Pennypack Park, and helped any and all who needed her, including schlepping the old ladies around the neighborhood in her car (which she very scarily drove through her 80s). Her energy was legendary – when she attended senior classes at the local community center in her 90s, she could often be found in the exercise room in the basement, exercising on the treadmill!

Flossie was a lifelong Democrat, a supporter of feminism and LGBT rights, and was anti-racist. She gave to many liberal and Jewish causes – usually about $5 per donation, which Norman joked was not even enough to cover the organization’s postage on their fundraising letters. She campaigned for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and was disappointed that she never saw a woman become elected as president. She never missed voting in any election – she believed strongly in our democracy.

Flossie was very funny and had a great sense of humor! She was also adventurous and curious, and she never complained. She loved to travel, and she and Norman traveled all over the world after they retired. She continued to travel after his death, even visiting Central Europe with one of her children at the age of 85.

Flossie was well-loved throughout her life, and her kindness and compassion will be felt by many people for years to come. She will be missed. 

Relatives and friends are invited to funeral services on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 11:30 AM preciesly at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Funeral Directors, Suburban North. Interment to follow at Mt. Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, PA. Shiva will be observed at the home of Barbara and Gary Bailer Tuesday through Thursday.