Florence Tornquist Tuthill passed away Nov. 4, 2024.
She was 96 years old and surrounded by her three children, her daughter-in-law, and a bunch of grandchildren. It was exactly what she wanted.
Florrie Tuthill was warm, elegant, thoughtful. She was one of a kind.
Florrie met her husband Jim when she accepted an invitation from her college roommate, Jim's sister Joan, to join the Tuthill family for Christmas 1947 in Chicago. Florrie had already nicknamed Jim "Grumpy Gus" based on a West Point photo Joan had on her desk, so it's fair to say that no one involved had any matchmaking in mind. Once Jim and Florrie spent a bit of time together that Christmas, Jim broke off his engagement to another woman and pursued this unique New Englander. Say what you will about Jim Tuthill, but he wasn't the least bit stupid.
With her quiet confidence and a lot of enthusiasm, Florrie accepted Jim's proposal to marry in the summer of 1948 upon his commissioning in the U.S. Army. She was just 19 years old.
Florrie and Jim served in the Army for five years. Daughter Sue was born in the Panama Canal Zone during the Korean War. Florrie always described the Army experience as wonderful time spent with kindred souls. Son Jay came along in 1953 when the family was back stateside. Daughter Ann joined the tribe five years later with the family firmly re-planted in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, Jim's childhood home. Florrie was forever busy as a wife and mother. She was a loving teacher who led her family through quiet example.
In 1972, with the family mostly raised, Florrie and Jim moved to Hinsdale. They immediately knew this was the place for them. It was an easy fit - much like Beverly but "even better."
Florrie found her place in Hinsdale. She touched many people and many organizations which won't be enumerated here. Her family wishes to remember Florrie not for what she did, but for who she was. She was a lovely person who would completely forget herself as she stepped into the shoes of the people she cared about - and she cared about everyone. Family members can't count the number of times they've walked into a situation and been identified as "a Tuthill" and the uber-predictable response is, "Oh, your mom is one of our absolute favorites!"
Always an animal lover, Florrie has been a major supporter of the Hinsdale Humane Society.
She is survived by her children, Sue (Gary) Schiess, Ann Stout and Jay (Jan) Tuthill; her grandchildren, Zach, Anya, Maren, Berit, Conner, Phillip, Jessica, James, Andy, Matt, Jordan and Jack; her grandchildren-in-law, John, Emily, Ashley, Dave, Jenny, Kate and Stephanie; and her great-grandchildren, James, Bowen, Ryne, Welles, Loughan, Trip, Charlotte, Florence, Hailey, Harper, Kaci, Jamie, Ian, Colin, Natlan, Gray, Grace, Caroline and Brooks
A funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Grace Church, 120 E. First St., Hinsdale.
Sullivan Funeral Home of Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
