Kittery - Florence (O'Brien) DiSilvestro, died peacefully at Birchwoods at Canco Assisted Living Community in Portland Maine, May 5, 2021. She had just celebrated her 99th Birthday and had a wonderful day. She said it was an accomplishment to reach that milestone.

Florence was born to William and Mary (Bowden) O'Brien May 3, 1922. She was the youngest of 7 siblings. Brothers, William, Gerald, Elmer, and sisters Edna Ruger, Helen Gray and Gertrude Tiernan predeceased her. Florence was born in the Rice Tavern on the shores of the Piscataqua River in Kittery, Maine. She often told hair-raising stories of Huck Finn like adventures with her siblings. Homemade diving tanks, ice flows and boats adrift.

Florence graduated from Traip Academy in 1941. She married Victor (Tony) DiSilvestro, a young and handsome Marine serving at the Portsmouth Naval Base, on December 5, 1941, just 2 days before Pearl Harbor was bombed. They had a very short honeymoon! They were married 66 years before Tony passed away in January 2008.

Tony's service in the USMC was the central feature of their marriage. Flo and their children moved around the country, living north to south and east to west. Flo and her three children, Donna, Victor and Victoria, always moved back to her beloved Kittery and family whenever Tony was deployed. In 1966 the couple made Kittery their permanent home. Florence was happy to be with her extended family once again.

From their dating days and throughout their marriage, Flo and Tony loved to dance together. They told entertaining tales of pre-war dances at the Grange Hall in Kittery. Later, they enjoyed line-dancing with friends, but they always looked forward to the yearly Marine Corps Anniversary Ball when they could dress up and "cut a rug"!

The couple were long time members of St. Raphael Church, where they were married. They served as ushers for years and also helped initiate the Footprints Food Pantry among other ministries. Florence was also a life-time member of the VFW Women's Auxiliary at Post 6977 in York, Maine. In her 80's Flo also was a member of Curves where she enjoyed working out and building long lasting friendships with other women. She looked forward to the yearly "Golden Grads" class reunions of R.W. Traip Academy to connect with her old friends and relatives.

Besides being a military wife, a special breed of women, she was mostly a homemaker. After moving back to Kittery in '66, she became employed in manufacturing jobs; her last employment was with Watts Fluid Power from which she retired.

Florence is survived by: her three children, Donna and Ray Charron, Victoria and Dale Kinney, and Victor DiSilvestro. A daughter-in-law, Erika DiSilvestro (Borstelman) pre-deceased her; Eight grandchildren: Bryan (Sabrina Pfuster), Matthew, and Jason (Jennifer McCloud) Charron, Nathan (Katie Else), Sarah, Hannah (Mark Devine) Kinney, and Zachary (Malindi Thompson) and Luke DiSilvestro; Eight great-grandchildren: Dorian, Avery, Jackson, Chase, Allison, Lena , Dexter and Henry. She and Tony had many pets that they doted on and loved, and she is survived by Rosie her cat who has kept her company these last 3 years.

Florence also leaves behind many nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved and enjoyed. Her family thanks them for their love and kindness and acts of service to Flo over the years that she was widowed. The family also thanks the employees and staff of Birchwood Assisted Living facility in Portland for their care and a special thank you to Mariam. Also, a special than you to Cheryl from Northern Lights Hospice Home Care.

Funeral details: Visiting hours will be held at JS Pelkey & Son Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Rd, Kittery on Sunday, May 23rd, 4 to 6 pm. A Private Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Raphael Church. Burial is at the Orchard Grove Cemetery in Kittery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Footprints Food Pantry in Kittery or the ASPCA in Stratham, New Hampshire or to a charity of your choice.