Flory Jagoda

Beloved “Nona” Flory Jagoda, 97, died peacefully on January 29, 2021 at Silverado Alexandria Memory Care Community. Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1923 Flory Papo Kabilio Jagoda is known as The Keeper of The Flame for her commitment to continuing the rich musical heritage and Sephardic traditions in memory of her adored Altaras Family who were killed in Vlasenica, Bosnia during WWII. Flory, a remarkable singer, creative songwriter, mesmerizing performer and totally engaging storyteller was honored by countless organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, the VA Foundation for the Humanities and was the proud recipient of a US Immigrant Achievement Award. A video interview at the US Holocaust Museum, 2 documentaries (The Key From Spain, Flory’s Flame); a children’s book, The Key From Spain and 5 CD recordings vividly retell her experience during WWII and the music that informed her extraordinary life.

As a refugee in Bari, Italy, Flory fell in love with and married “BTO” Master Sargent Harry Jagoda in June 1945 and came to America, the country she loved for the rest of her life, in 1946. She dedicated herself to raising an American family and celebrated 4th of July (and most other holidays, and “just for the fun of it”) with huge parties where everyone was welcome and guests came with musical instruments, folksongs and folk dancing. While her 4 children were growing up, Flory was a painter, as well as a teacher (guitar, accordion, and piano) and the house was always filled with the aromas of delicious beautifully presented food and all kinds of music – international, American folk music, Rock’n Roll, Bosnian Sevdalinkas and Sephardic songs. Acclaimed the world over for her Hanuka composition, Ocho Kandelikas, Flory became a featured concert performer and lecturer of Sephardic music as a soloist, with her children and with other musical colleagues. Nona Flory was a founder of the Jewish Folk Arts Society and Las Vijitas de Alhad, a monthly gathering of descendants of Sephardic Jews of the Old Ottoman Empire interested in speaking Ladino and preserving its traditions. Her life’s work was “to continue” and have the world know the emotional beauty of the music and knowledge she learned from her own Nona and to preserve the Sephardic culture she so loved.

Flory is predeceased by her dear Harry, her husband of 69 years and their son, Elliot, both of whom died in 2014. She will be remembered forever by all those who knew her but especially by her daughters, Betty Jagoda Murphy (Greg Murphy), Lori Jagoda Lowell (Jeremy Lowell), son Andy Jagoda (Silvana Riggio), cousin, Berta Altaras Silverstein (Barry Silverstein) and daughter-in-law, Evie Jagoda. Nona will be held firmly in the hearts of her adored grandchildren: Josh Murphy (Meghan Murphy), Ian Lowell (Alysia Lowell), Ariel Lowell and Alec Lowell (fiancé Sasha), Aaron Jagoda (Justinn Jagoda) and Nathan Jagoda and stories about Nona Flory will keep her memory vibrant for her great grandchildren: Liam and Flory Murphy, Cooper Lowell and Ellis Jagoda. All the members of her Jagoda Family, nieces and nephews, as well as her musical colleagues, Susan Gaeta, Aviva Chernik and Howard Bass foremost among them, will honor her memory every time they sing one of her songs or recount a story about Nona Flory.

There is so much more to say about this extraordinary treasure of a woman who faced the world with determination and serenity and responded to all of life’s questions with music and her whole heart… kun Salud I Byena Vida.

A Zoom Funeral Service and Shiva Minyans will be announced. Donations in Flory’s honor can be made to

Flory Jagoda Sephardic Music Fund

Virginia Humanities

145 Ednam Drive

Charlottesville, VA 22903

Or via the internet link: https://virginiafolklife.org/give/flory-jagoda-sephardic-music-fund/

Services will be help at National Funeral Home and King David Memorial Gardens on Monday February 1, 2021 at 11AM, burial following immediately.

The service will be livestreamed on our facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/National-Funeral-Home-National-Memorial-Park-115824169103753/