Florence "Lori" Ross

Florence “Lori” Ross, 59, of Bluffton, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, February 27, 2026, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Lori was born on October 4, 1966, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and attended Archbishop Ryan High School, graduating in 1984. Her education continued at Northeastern School of Nursing in Philadelphia, where she received her nursing degree in 1987. She went on to earn her undergraduate degree, graduating summa cum laude from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science in 1994. Lori completed her education at the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia, earning the outstanding student award in 2000 and her MBA in Health Care Administration in 2001 finishing on the Dean List.

Lori began her career as a registered nurse at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and in the emergency room at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. After receiving her MBA, she transitioned into hospital administration to pursue her passion for improving quality outcomes for patients, a mission she followed for the rest of her professional life. She finished her career where she was happiest, as Regional Director of Quality at Community Health Systems, where her leadership, compassion, and dedication touched countless patients, families, and colleagues.

Lori enjoyed her life in Sun City with her husband, Michael. Together they loved playing tennis, biking, taking long walks through the nature trails, and traveling to visit family and friends. She was an avid and deeply knowledgeable Philadelphia sports fan, able to discuss Eagles and Phillies stats with the best of them. She was also a voracious reader who especially loved Southern fiction and left behind a list of more than 100 books she had hoped to read.

Lori is survived by the love of her life, her husband, Michael; they were married for 35 wonderful years. She is also survived by her mother, Florence “Ginger” Miller (Randy); her brother, Carmen Alvaro (Jacqueline); her sister, Beth Czubati (Christopher); and was preceded in death by her brother, Michael Alvaro. She is also survived by her aunt and Godmother Jeanne Zalegowski (Ron) and her Uncle John Woods (Nancy). She is further survived by her mother-in-law, Virginia Ross; brother-in-law, Thomas Ross (Debbie); sister-in-law, Patricia Kerns (Richard); brother-in-law, John Ross (Lisa); and sister-in-law, Maryellen Ross. She was surrounded by love from many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, and by her lifelong friend, Karen Winther (Bob), who was like a second sister to her.

A Celebration of Life for Lori will be held at Sauls Funeral Home in Bluffton, South Carolina, on Saturday, March 14, at 3 p.m. The service will be live streamed below.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lori’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.