Mary Fiore

Mary Fiore (née Alex) died peacefully on December 14th in Fernandina Beach, Florida at the age of 91.

Mary is survived by her children, Paul (Debbi Goodman) Fiore, Takoma Park, MD, Robert (Suzie) Fiore, East Grand Rapids, MI, Michael Fiore, Richmond, VA, Lorraine (Scott) Barry, Ponte Vedra, FL, Maria (Steve) Taylor, Atlantic Beach, FL; Lisa (Clay) Jones, Fernandina Beach, FL and Stephen (Allison) Fiore, Orlando, FL; her brother Peter (Nancy) Alex and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Joseph Fiore and her parents, Spiro and Nicodina Alex.

Mary was born on February 23, 1930, in St. Paul, Minnesota to Spiro and Nicodina Alex. She graduated from Lackawana High School in 1948 and attended secretarial school before marrying Paul in September 1951. After moving to Silver Spring, Maryland in 1967, Mary busied herself raising her seven children, while at the same time, becoming the consummate neighborhood host, preparing legendary food for gatherings too numerous to count over their years there. She continued enjoying time with the many lifelong friends she made in the neighborhood where they lived for many years. After the youngest children were in school full time, Mary worked for Eastern Instrumentation in Burtonsville, MD until her husband Paul’s retirement in 1992. Paul and Mary moved to Ocean Pines, MD in 1993 to begin their retirement years where they made many more lifelong friends. Their final move was to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, in 2000 to join three of their children who had moved to Florida previously.

Over these many years, the couple welcomed seven children, fourteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren into their home. Her family remembers her as a kind, caring, and fun-loving mother and grandmother who always loved entertaining and being surrounded by her family.

Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, January 5th, 7-9 PM at Quinn-Shalz Funeral Home in Jacksonville Beach, FL. A funeral mass is scheduled for January 6th, at 2:00 PM at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Mary’s life. (Mary’s favorite color was purple and would love to see that on you rather than black, to celebrate her life!)

The family would like to thank Ms. Phyllis Smith, for her kind and compassionate care of Mary over the past 17 months to allow her to live her best life every day! We’d also like to thank Community Hospice of Northeast Florida for their loving care of Mary during her final days. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida at 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, Attn: Community Hospice Foundation.