Filomena (Palermo) Wallace

It is with great sorrow and love that the family of Filomena (Palermo) Wallace announces her peaceful passing on July 5, 2023 at the age of 90.  She was the wife of the late James E. Wallace, and mother to the late James E. Wallace, Jr.

Born and raised in Natick, she was the daughter of the late Domenico and Francesca (Genco) Palermo.  Florence was a longtime resident of Framingham (Saxonville), Dennis and Ashland.

Florence was a proud graduate of St. Patrick's Parochial School and then Natick High School in 1951.  She entered a career in bookkeeping, working for Continental Can Company, and Gregg & Son Milling over the next 10 years.

Florence married the love of her life in 1957, James E. Wallace, who predeceased her in 2001.  She left office work to start a family and was one of the first at-home window treatment seamstresses for the Sportswear Store in Framingham (later known as the Fabric Place).  She soon established Florence Wallace Draperies, serving Framingham, Sudbury, and Wayland clients for 30 years.  She also taught window treatment sewing courses at Keefe Tech at Night, and was the official errand runner for her husband's family restaurant, Wallace's Ice Cream of Framingham.  Always the learner, she received her real estate license and enjoyed a side hustle of realtor work.  Her favorite role came in 1980, when she and her husband purchased The Gingerbread House in Dennisport, bringing Wallace's Homemade Ice Cream to Cape Cod.  A seasonal business which she loved every minute.

Florence was viscerally drawn to the ocean for all of her life, no matter what season.  They found their ultimate ocean side happy place 1976, in the Bayview Beach neighborhood of Dennis.  They enjoyed year round fun with family, cousins, and neighbors at their East Bayview Road home.

She was an avid painter, a former member of the Northborough Art Guild and Cape Cod Art Association, and instructed by Vivien Oswell of Harwich in oil and watercolor.  She enjoyed many happy days painting landscapes with her niece Joanne, and a favorite day when her husband carried her easel and supplies on Ogunquit's Marginal Way so she could paint the ocean in real life.  This was her favorite painting.

In retirement she joined the Sons of Italy-Francesco DeSanctis Lodge #141 in Natick in 2001, and was still a member at 90 years old. She enjoyed her past role as Treasurer, and was a prior member of the Student Scholarship Committee.  She fondly enjoyed her varied volunteer work and all festivities, making wonderful friendships with members and their families.

In true Italian style, she was the ultimate hostess of Sunday dinners and holiday gatherings.  Her Italian cooking, strong coffee, trilogy of desserts, and the endless flow of stories and laughter made for cherished memories. It was rare to visit her home without a handful of homemade food to take home. She treasured teaching her daughter and granddaughter how to make homemade Cappelletti, Ravioli, and Easter Sicilian Cassatelle.

After her husband's passing, Florence moved to Ashland's Leah Estates Community, where she made wonderful new friendships and attended many fun events.

Of all her accomplishments and interests, her greatest joy in life was being a beloved mother, mother-in-law, "Mimi", aunt, great-aunt, and friend.  She was a scouting, hockey, figure skating, and dance mom, always giving of herself to creating unique memories with her son, daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter throughout her lives.  She loved sewing holiday dresses, knitting sweaters, teaching how to paint, and cooking sacred family recipes together.  Always up front and center, she was her granddaughter's greatest fan for everything she did, and ensured she knew where to find the very best ice cream shops, chocolatiers, and Italian bakeries.

She leaves behind her daughter Lynn Wilder and her husband Brian of Ashland, MA; her granddaughter Victoria Wilder Carter and her husband Todd of Bellingham, MA; her sister Eleanor (Palermo) Trisvan and her husband Gilbert of South Chesterfield, VA; and her sister-in-law June (Wallace) Greene of North Falmouth, MA.  She leaves her dearest family with whom she was very close throughout her entire life; her niece Joanne Avey and her husband Norm, her niece and goddaughter Cheryl McSweeney and her husband Fredrick, her nephew Sumner Greene and his husband Thomas Bien, her niece Carolyn Vaillette and her husband David, her nephew Charles Greene and his fiancé Karen Strattner, her niece Lauren Gatta, her nephew Ryan Avey and his wife Emily, along with great-nieces and great-nephews; Meagan Berkowitz, Donald McSweeney, Daniel Vaillette, Andrew Greene, Emily Gurvis, Maggie Greene, Matthew Gatta, Gianna Avey, Ella Avey, and their families.  She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and wonderful friends and family including Helen Falone, Betty & Vinny DiMilla, and Carol Wilder.

Besides her parents, husband, and son, she is predeceased by her sister Josephine (Palermo) Durgin, her brother Ralph Palermo and his wife Anne, her nephew Ralph Palermo Jr., her in-laws Arthur and Mary (Leveille) Wallace, her best friend William Falone, and her brother-in-law Arthur Wallace, Jr. and his wife Marlene.

The family would like to thank Phil Potts, Director of Brookdale Cushing Park and its many wonderful staff, Dr. Natalia Rosenberg, Dr. Elizabeth Ascher, Dr. Joseph Dalton, Dr. Flavia Machado for their outstanding care and compassion for many years; and a special thank you to the wonderful staff of Metrowest Homecare and Hospice.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate her Funeral Mass of Christian Burial on Monday July 10, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Saint Matthew Parish, 26 Highland St, Southborough, MA.  Burial will follow in the family lot in St. Stephens Cemetery, Fenwick St, Framingham.

Visiting hours will be at the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA. on Sunday, July 9, 2023 from 2-5pm.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made out to the Student Scholarship Fund c/o Sons of Italy-Francesco DeSanctis Lodge #141, 37 Washington Ave. Natick, MA 01760.