Florine "Flo" Martin

Florine May (Vicenti, Pecorilla) Martin, 73, passed away Feb. 23, 2009 at her home in Sparks. She was born March 7, 1935 to Narcisso and Esther Vicenti in San Fernando, Calif. where she was raised with her brother Arthur and sister Virginia.

She married Angelo Pecorilla and together they had two children, Marie and Steven. While they were growing up she devoted her entire life to being the best stay at home mom in the world. Their house was always open to friends and she made the best pizza in town!

Years later, after her divorce, she worked for the State Department in Carson City, and later owned and operated the Wagon Wheel Food and Liquor Company in Virginia City. In 1986 she moved to Phoenix, Ariz. and enjoyed her "retirement" swimming, playing bridge, traveling, hiking, shopping, and spending a lot of time with her grandchildren. After returning to Nevada in 1989, she eventually settled in Sparks again to be near her greatest joy in life, her family and grandchildren. She soon began taking floral training classes and worked at WinCo Foods (then Cub Foods) as their chief florist until she, again, retired in 2000.

Flo enjoyed her time spent with friends as a member of the Red Hat Society, Beta Sigma Phi, and the Twentieth Century Club, as well as being an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Community and the "Happy Kneelers." She was an avid volunteer with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, and the Washoe County "Read to Succeed" Program at Lena Juniper Elementary School. She also volunteered earlier, in the bookkeeping office at Reed High School. She loved reading, knitting, teaching Hanna knitting, stamping, music, sewing, teaching Hanna sewing, playing Scrabble, and especially cooking for everyone ("soup night at Grammas!")

Above all else she loved her time spent with her grandchildren and attended nearly every one (and there were honestly, hundreds) of their games, matches, recitals, and performances. Her happiest times were on Christmas Eve, when she had her home full of her children and grandchildren running around and she would make her renowned "Shrimp Scampi." She also enjoyed being outdoors, working in her yard, enjoying life and her gorgeous garden. "One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on Earth." Flo was one of God's most beautiful, loving, generous, forgiving, caring, and compassionate followers. She always had a smile to give, a hand to help, and a friend to make.

Flo is preceded in death by both of her parents, her brother Arthur and her sister Virginia.

Flo is survived by her two children Marie Hooft (Robert) and Steven Pecorilla (Connie); five grandchildren Anneka, Jessica, Raymond, and Sierra (Marie) and Hanna (Steven); brother-in-law Jim Reeve (Virginia) and nephew Eric Reeve; niece Janet David and nephew Alan Vicenti.

A memorial mass will be10 a.m. Monday at Holy Cross Catholic Community, 5650 Vista Boulevard in Sparks, followed by a reception in the hall.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Reed High School Scholarship Fund in Flo's memory.