Florence Chambers

Florence (Rozniak) Chambers, 76, of Shaker Heights, OH (formerly of Warrenville, IL and Raymond, ME) peacefully passed away on June 25, 2023 at home. She was the loving wife of Dr. Frank Chambers with whom she shared 54 years of partnership and parenting together. 

Born in Queens, NY on November 10, 1946 to Jenny and Stephen Rozniak, Florence was valedictorian of Delehanty High School in Queens NY and earned a B.S. and M.S. in mathematics from St. John's University in NYC. After graduating, she taught students in elementary school through college, finding the most enjoyment in teaching young and older adults in the community college setting.  She was an accomplished community college math instructor for more than 30 years, teaching primarily at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, IL and Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, ME.  She was instrumental in restructuring the math curriculum at Southern Maine Community College to university-level standards as it made the transition from a Vocational Technical College to a Community College.

She received national awards from the AMATYC (American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges) and the ICTCM award for teaching excellence for her contributions to Community College Mathematics teaching.

Florence will be remembered for her quiet strength. She encouraged those around her to be the best that they could be and to expand horizons wherever possible. She loved music, singing and playing piano at church for decades. She moderated and mentored a student chorus at Southern Maine Community College which became a part of the SMCC curriculum. She was a beloved member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in North Windham, ME for two decades and at St. Irene's in Warrenville, IL for over 15 years, providing many years of music at both parishes.

She was a woman of many roles with many interests through which she impacted innumerable lives for the better. These included wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, curriculum designer, master quilter, musician, mystery book lover and video game aficionado. She also became active in the ministry to the Maine Correctional Center in Windham, ME. Patient, smart and kind, she was open and welcoming to all she met and could be counted on to provide honest, level-headed input to any situation. A talented quilter, Florence created nearly 60 impressive quilts for friends and family members to use and cherish (see them in her quilting history document below).

Florence is survived by her husband Frank and three children; Catherine Warrier (Kishore), Michelle Swearingen (Jason), and Stephen (Ami); grandchildren Helen, Cedric, Kavi, Kiran, and Wesley; and sister Dorothy Soares (Jim). She will be missed dearly by many.