Mary Louise De Flories

By John R. Vollaro  September 1994

    Mary Louise De Flories was born in Hornell New York. She was the last of 5 children born to Angelo & Adeline De Flories who emigrated to the United States from the Naples area of Italy in the early 1900's. Mary's family moved to Brooklyn New York from Hornell when she was 13 years old. The move was made to improve Angelo's business as a tailor which it did. The family prospered and as Mary grew up she learned to sew. She was employed as a milliner by Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan and her specialty was woman's hats .

    Mary became friends with John Vollaro through her sister Philomena who was married to Joseph Vollaro. Mary and John were married on April 19, 1936. They raised 2 children, Joseph Frederick and John Richard, and lived in Brooklyn N.Y.

    Mary is known for her generous nature, good cooking, and the ability to make and keep friends. She has a strong faith in God and is known throughout the family for her special relationship with Saint Anthony, the patron saint of lost articles. The stories of her involvement in finding lost wallets, purses, rings etc. abound and are a family legend. One classic example occurred when a stranger lost his wallet in the middle of Schroon Lake. It contained $100 in cash and he searched four days for it before giving up. Mary saw him searching and felt sorry for him. As was her way, she prayed to St. Anthony to help him find it. The next day, while riding in a motor boat, she glanced over the side and was amazed to see the open wallet at the bottom of the lake. She yelled to stop the boat, and the wallet was recovered. The stranger gave her a reward, and she took her family to dinner with it.

    Mary is an active member of her church and senior citizens group in Pleasantville New York. She volunteers her time to sew for cancer patients and radiates good humor, love and friendship to everyone.