Flora M. Cafaro 1957-2016

She was a devoted mother, a successful business person and a woman of enormous generosity.

She was born Dec. 4, 1957, the daughter of William M. and Alyce Cafaro.

She was a graduate of Youngstown’s Ursuline High School. From an early age, she participated in the shopping center development business her father founded in 1949. She eventually rose to the position of vice president and assistant treasurer of the Cafaro Co.

In 1992, the local chapter of the American Business Women’s Association honored her as its Businesswoman of the Year.

Friends and community leaders remember Ms. Cafaro most for her compassionate nature and life of philanthropy. At the time of her death, she was a trustee of the Cafaro Family Foundation, which has donated more than $12 million to a variety of charitable causes since 1996. As a trustee, she led the effort to donate $100,000 to the OH Wow! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science and Technology.

Prior to that, she was a trustee of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown, as well as a benefactor of the Easter Seals Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties; a supporter of Hospice of the Valley; the Youngstown Symphony; the American Cancer Society; the Oblate Sisters of Villa Maria; and many other causes. For more than 20 years, she served on the board of trustees for The Cleveland Clinic. As part of her work there, she served as an advocate on the Heart & Vascular Institute Leadership Commission and was instrumental in raising funds for cancer research and wellness programs.

She was kind, generous and thoughtful. She gave from her heart to all, and she was there for anyone in need. If anything, she was too generous. Most of all, she was a very prayerful woman.

She is survived by her sons, Jon Cafaro-Ferraro and William Cafaro-Ferraro; her brothers, Anthony Cafaro Sr. (Phyllis) and John J. Cafaro (Janet); her former husband, John C. Ferraro; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Ms. Cafaro will take place 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. A Mass of Christian burial will take place noon Monday at the cathedral. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any material contributions be made to the Oblate Sisters of Villa Maria, 50 Warner Road, Hubbard, OH 44425.

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