Florence E. Facibene

Known as Florence, or “Flo” to friends and family, Flavia Emma Facibene (nee Ciampanti) age 94 passed away peacefully in her residence at Orchard Estate of Woodbury assisted living on October 12, 2025.

Florence was born at the original Lutheran Hospital on Junius St. in East New York Brooklyn to Italian immigrant parents Joseph “Louie” Ciampanti, and Anna Ciampanti (nee Catalano). They eventually settled in Richmond Hill, Queens with her sisters Michaelina and Mary. Flo attended Richmond Hill High School where she was cheerleading captain, and a member of the swim team, graduating in 1948.

Florence took up work in the Corn Exchange Bank (Chemical/Chase Manhattan Bank) on Grand Avenue in Brooklyn which is where she met her lifelong partner William Vito “Bill” Facibene from Elmhurst Queens. They were introduced by a mutual friend Mary Sinacore, when Bill came in to transact an interbank exchange for the Bushwick Savings Bank where he worked.  Florence said he was slow to act, but Bill being shy eventually called her and a whirlwind romance followed. Bill proposed to Flo on September 23, 1950 at St. Benedict Joseph Labre Church in Richmond Hill where they were married on February 3, 1951

The new Facibenes moved to Hollis, Queens where they lovingly raised their daughter Carol, born in 1954. After a move to Valley Stream on Long Island in 1956, a 2nd daughter, Janice, was born in 1957, and son, Bill, in 1963. They led an idyllic life in what at that time was “small town America” with close knit families involved in community activities and sports.  

Mrs. Facibene, her husband, and children were regulars at the Valley Stream Pool and Recreation Center, the defacto “Country Club” of the town. You would also find us at the Village Green Park bandshell for concerts on warm summer nights in our folding chairs, or at a Green Hornets, or VS Central football game at Firemen’s Field.

Flo and Bill were integrally involved in all aspects of the community including as Holy Name of Mary Church and School volunteers, Franklin Avenue Elementary School PTA, 4H, Girl Scouts, Green Hornets Football, St. Mary’s Little League Baseball, and the Valley Stream Central High School Parents Boosters Club. She volunteered in assisting special needs children with reading deficiencies at Franklin Avenue, her love of books and reading foreshadowing a future career and passion (in addition to being able to keep an eye and ear on her kids).  In particular, Mrs. Facibene is remembered by many to this day for hosting The Blue & Gray HS Sorority initiation in our basement on many occasions.  These were quite messy and sticky affairs involving screeching girls with long hair filled with molasses, seeds, flour, and many other things the girls parents had to clean out for weeks afterward.

Mrs. Facibene, having learned from her mother Anna, was a terrific cook, and master baker often creating specialty cakes that amazed her friends and family. She was also taught how to sew by her mother who was a seamstress by profession. She taught all of her children to sew and could often be found sitting in front of the Singer sewing machine in our basement quietly toiling away.

Florence worked in Alexanders department store in the Green Acres Mall, and Abner Doubleday publishers in Garden City.  Her love of books, reading, and learning led to a fulfilling part-time career as a clerk in the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library in Valley Stream.  There she thrived as a friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful guide to those who shared her passion for reading. She would always come home with a pile of books for us to read which led to many nights under the bedcovers with our flashlights.  What she excelled at best, as a community connector, communicator, parent, and friend was always knowing what was going on in the town, among our friends, and particularly what we were doing at ANY moment.  She would inevitably show up to a rowdy bunch of kids, whisk us into the car, and save us from trouble that we didn’t even know we were getting into yet. A skill matched by no one we have since met on this earth. And forget about sneaking off to a boyfriend or girlfriend’s house under the guise of “studying” somewhere else.  She would pry the info from some unwitting student in the library and we would be punished. It is something we thank her for to this day. If that’s not Love, what is?

Flo retired from the library in 1993, in time to welcome her first grandchild Zoe Jane Carpentieri.  Over the next 6 years, Flo and Bill were blessed with 4 more. Jordan William Facibene (Nicole) in 1995, Kyle Anthony Facibene and Matthew Christopher Gallipoli in 1997, and Mariella Nicole (Tyler) Facibene in 1999. Flo and Bill spent their retirement years doting on their grandchildren, traveling, and enjoying time with very close lifelong friends and family members.  

Although “retired”, Flo and Bill worked tirelessly for the church in many capacities including Parish Outreach Food Pantry delivering food to the needy, the Padre Pio and Rosary Societies, and Stations of the Cross. She also assisted her husband in his duties leading the Holy Name Society, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  Her final job, which she ceased only because she had trouble climbing the stairs, was working in the Rectory assisting Sister Marge and Maria, and counting and logging the offerings from parishioners. 

When Bill passed away in April, 2022, they were married for over 71 years. Living for a year in a totally empty nest without the love of her life, and surviving a series of illnesses requiring hospital and rehab led to her next chapter.  In May, 2023 Flo moved to Orchard Estate.  For almost 2.5 years she thrived there and became the Queen of the community.  Although she sorely missed her husband and former life, she immersed herself in many activities and social events at Orchard. She bonded very closely with her meal table mates and others. She would read, watch movies, go to crafts, shopping and cultural trips, and church on Sunday at St. Edward the Confessor in Syosset. Being a woman of the world from Brooklyn, she expanded her spiritual self attending weekly meetings at Orchard Estate with Rabbi Shmuel of Plainview Synagogue.  Her immersion in Judaism only deepened her overall faith and led to many fascinating conversations with her fellow residents and family.  In addition to receiving the last rites of Catholicism from a Priest in her apartment at Orchard, with family present, Rabbi Shmuel read to her Psalm 20 from King David which was a very moving experience.  

Florence is predeceased by her loving husband Bill, parents Louis and Anna Ciampanti, and sisters Michaelina (Renato) Avignone, and Mary (Louis) Maselli.  She is survived by her children Carol (Chris) Gallipoli of Commack, Janice (Chris) Sievers of Douglaston, Dr. William (Susan) Facibene of Roslyn, and her five grandchildren. 

In Lieu of flowers please make donations to:

Holy Name of Mary - Sister Margie Parish Outreach
55 East Jamaica Avenue, Valley Stream NY 11580
Tel: 1-516-825-1450
Web: https://hnomary.org/

Envelopes for donations will be made available during the visitation.