Florence Innes

Florence Louise Innes, née Belli, of Overland Park, KS, passed away on June 30, 2018 at the age of 91.

Florence was born in St Louis, MO to Valentino Guido and Clara Marie (Brusatti) Belli.

Florence graduated from Southwest High School in St Louis in 1944.  She soon enjoyed working as a laboratory technician at Jewish Hospital, and later at Baptist Memorial Hospital, where she met her future husband, an intern named Robert C Innes.  They married on August 20, 1949.  They were married for 51 years until Bob passed away on January 20, 2001.

Florence contributed greatly to Bob’s success in his military career and later in his private practice as a radiologist.

Florence was a wonderful mother, active in the PTA and as a room mother, encouraging her children’s interests in scouting, horseback riding, sports music and more.  As her own children grew to adulthood, she continued being a part of children’s lives.  For 23 years, she managed the school kitchens at Marsha Bagby and John Diemer Elementary Schools in the Shawnee Mission School District.  After retirement, she volunteered for 30 years in local nursing homes.

Florence never lost her love for life and for family.  She had a passion for traveling and would enthusiastically accompany any family member.  With Bob, she saw many of the States, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as much of the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada.  Later, she travelled to Switzerland and Italy twice, as well as France in the company of her children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.  Florence enjoyed her circle of friends, until April of this year driving from her Overland Park home of 53 years to the Sylvester Powell Community Center in Mission, KS, twice a week to participate in chair yoga with her girlfriends, who are known as the “Teenagers”.

Florence waged a brave battle to stay with her loving family down to the end.  For weeks and especially in her final hours, she was constantly surrounded by her adoring children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and close friends.  Many healthcare workers remarked on what an exceptional woman she was to have so many around her all the time.  She is survived by her children, Robert C Innes, Jr (Jane), Susan Beurmann (Bruce), Jim Innes (Kellie) and Bruce Innes (Sanae), 5 grandchildren, Katie Guyer (Ben) and their children Andrew and Haley, Kevin Beurmann, Morgan Meade (Mike), Anthony Innes, and Jeremy Helling (Tobi) and their children Ruby Callaghan and Maizy Helling.  She will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.

A visitation will be held at Johnson County Funeral Chapel at 11200 Metcalf in Overland Park on Thursday July 5 from 5-7pm.  A service will be held at Cure of Ars Catholic Church on Friday July 6 at 10am, where she was a member since the family moved to Overland Park in 1965.  A private burial will be held at Leavenworth National Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be given to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo 64145