HAVERHILL : Florence R. Cottis, 96, passed away on January 25, 2025 at Lawrence General Hospital. She was the wife of the late Theodore "Ted" Cottis to whom she was married for forty-two years before his passing in 1994.

Born in Haverhill on April 16, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Joseph C. and Freida C. (Schmidt) McGauley.

Florence was educated in Haverhill and graduated from Haverhill High School, Class of 1946. She worked as a payroll coordinator at Lucent Technologies, retiring in 1990 following twenty-four years of dedicated service. Having previously worked at Operation Alligator/Clicker City and Youngblood Plumbing & Heating in Haverhill.

She was a faithful member of the former First Congregational Church in Haverhill for sixty-five years, and a member of the Women's City Club of Haverhill.

Florence's varied interests included gardening, nature, bird watching, reading, and puzzles of all kinds. Light classical music would fill her home, and she always looked forward to family gatherings and greeting everyone with a kind smile.

She enjoyed playing the organ and piano and instilled the love of music in her children Danny and Larry. The Sting was one of her favorite movies, and she would watch it over and over and never tire of it or the wonderful music of the soundtrack.

Although her daily activities became more difficult and challenging, she would crack a smile and utter the phrase "It 'taint easy McGee." This simple phrase would cause her to chuckle and showed she was still up to the challenge.

When most others would have given up, Florence showed her tremendous strength in the face of adversity. She lived her live with integrity of the utmost and her favorite saying was "you're never too old to learn."

Florence had a favorite poem that she enjoyed sharing with everyone she knew: "When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to share, don't stand beside my grave and weep, for I shall not be there. An angel came and took my hand and said my Time had come. So, when tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to share, just remember that I love you. And I always, always, will."

Florence is survived by her son Daniel T. Cottis and his partner Bethany Doyon of Portsmouth, NH, and several nieces and nephews. Florence was preceded in death by her brothers Henry, Robert, and Herman McGauley, and Eleanor, and her beloved son Lawrence (Larry) Cottis who passed away in 1996.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday, September 26, 2025 at 12:15 noon, at Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main St., Haverhill, MA 01830. Calling hours will precede the service from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Inurnment to follow at Linwood Cemetery. Memorial donations in Florence's name may be made to the charity of donor's choice. On-line condolence may be sent to www.dcsfuneralhome.com