Obituary of Florence E. Carrington

Florence E. Carrington Venice, FL. Florence E. (Palfrey) Carrington, a long-time resident and businesswoman in Warrensburgh, NY, died Friday, January 4, 2019, at ManorCare Health Services in Venice, FL. She was 93. Mrs. Carrington was born and grew up on City Island, The Bronx, a tiny island of “clamdiggers,” that’s far more evocative of New England than New York City. During World War II, her Scottish grandmother hosted parties for British sailors, which is where she met Ken Carrington (deceased 2007). They married in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and spent the war years in England where they started their family. In 1948, they repatriated to the U.S. and settled on Long Island before eventually moving to Warrensburgh in 1957 when Ken started his own business as an electrical contractor and the couple became active in the community. Despite a growing family of six children, Florence always sought out entrepreneurial opportunities that fit in with demands at home. She ran a food truck for workers when the Northway was under construction and had a snack stand at Echo Lake Beach that made for a great summer for the kids. In the 1960s, she took a real estate course and found her true calling. After working for Najer Realty, she got a broker’s license and started her own successful business, Rondack Realty, based in Warrensburgh. In 1970, the couple took on something different by purchasing McDonald’s Cottages in Bolton Landing. Renamed Hon-Dah Cottages, the family operated the enterprise until the early 80s when they formed an association of individual owners. In 1982, the Carrington’s opened The Merrill Magee House, taking them back to their adopted hometown. Florence worked tirelessly for the success of the MMH – from earning recognition on the register of historic places to the décor and menu – there’s nothing that didn’t benefit from her taste, style and business acumen. Throughout her years in town, Florence was active in the Kiwanis Wives and played a key role in establishing the Warrensbugh Beautification Committee. She was a communicant of Holy Cross. In 1999, the couple retired to Osprey, near Venice, Fl., which started as a holiday location when the children were young but quickly became a second home. In retirement, she pursued art, loved to read and especially enjoyed opening her home to friends and family, showing them how to enjoy Florida living. She was the matriarch of a large and loving clan, including her six children: Janet True and her son Sean and his wife Molly; K. Daryl Carrington and his wife Mary, and their sons Jaspar and Ian; Pamela Converse and daughters Donne-Lynn Greiner and her husband Howard, and Paula Pike; Deborah Flack and her husband Julius, and children J. Ross and Elizabeth; Vandra Dagles and her husband Chester, and children Christina Wallace and her husband Thomas, Kenneth and his wife Erin and Margaret; and James Carrington and his wife Michelle. The great-grandchildren include Kathryn and her husband Kyle Stewart, H. Harper and Abigail Greiner; Hannah Pike; Mathew Dagles; Robert Foote III; Gavin Flack; and Hattie and Rori True. Memorial services will be held at her favorite spot on Nokomis Beach and in Warrensburgh at a future date. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book, condolences, and directions.