Flora Sanzotti was born Flora Scialabba January 15,1910, the third child and only daughter of Gandolfo and Maria Scialabba, on Mercer Street in the West end of Butler. Upton gazing at his daughter for the first time, Gandolfo choose "Flower" as her name. Flora and her three brothers(all deceased) grew up in a home rich in Sicilian food, customs and heritage. Her parents emphasized education, music, and good citizenship as the best training, and gave her an enormous sense of family. Her three musician brothers all had careers in bands and orchestras. Flora attended public schools in Butler; Jefferson Street, West -End, McKean Street, and Butler High School, graduating in 1928. Shewas briefly employed by the Friedman Grocery Store on West Jefferson Street.Flora married Bruno Sanzotti in 1930 and they made their home in Butler; first on Muntz Ave. then Elm Street,, Jefferson Street and finally the Old Monroe Hotel on the corner of Jefferson and Monroe Streets in Butler. Bruno and Flora operated the hotel from 1945 to 1980. Their two children Sara Jane (Vero, Leonard deceased) and Vincent James (Claudette Joyce) were both born and raised in Butler.
After thirty-five years in the hotel/resturant business, Bruno and Flora retired on a two acre plot of land next to the Slippery Rock Creek in Kiester,Pa. Bruno passed away in June of 1982 and Flora lived alone at 530 North Main Street, the Butler Townhouse , until 2006, when she moved into Newhaven Court Assisted Living Facility in Center Township Butler County. Attendance records will show that she was one of the most active residents at Newhaven. She attended exercise class, crossword sessions and bingo everyday. While Flora waited for an activity to begin, she did not sit idly by. She knitted, crocheted or read.
The most important thing to Flora during this past century has been her family. Two children, nine grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren; she remembered the birth date of each one and never failed to congratulate each one via a card. She was a remarkable woman who was much loved and will be greatly missed by all.
