Florence Adams

Florence was the devoted and loving wife of Norman I. Adams 3rd and mother of their 4 children – Pamela of Durham, NC, Sarah of Newburyport, Norman 4th of Palo Alto, and Daniel of Wilton, CT. In addition, she is survived by her 6 grandchildren – Matthew, Alison, Andrew, Josephine, Samantha, and Daniel – as well as by her brother-in-law, Harry Adams of Wichita, KS.

Born August 7, 1921 in Boston, Florence became a ward of the state soon after her birth and was shuttled from one foster home to another. Her early years were marked by uncertainty, loneliness, and adversity. She learned at a very early age to work hard.

Florence attended Orleans High School, graduating in 1940. It was there that she met Emma (“Emmy”) Corcoran. They became instant and ultimately lifelong friends, there for each other for 61 years until Emmy’s death. Emmy’s family welcomed Florence and was her first real family.

Florence worked for a while as a waitress at the first franchised Howard Johnson’s restaurant (now the Lost Dog Pub). In March 1943, she enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps. The WAAC soon became the Women’s Army Corps where Florence proudly served her country as a surgical technician. After being honorably discharged on November 30, 1945, she moved to the Boston area looking for work and a new life.

Eventually Florence took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended a secretarial school. Subsequently she went to Japan for a couple of years as an office worker in the postwar reconstruction of the Japanese government. She was flown there by the U.S. but when her stint was completed she was transported back by ship, re-entering the United States at Seattle on March 13, 1954. She returned to Boston, got a job as a secretary in Liberty Mutual, and was living in Cambridge where she met her future husband.

Florence and Norman were married on August 26, 1955 at Christ Church in Cambridge. After living about a year in the Boston area, they moved to Wilton, CT where they raised their family. Florence was a stay-at-home mother for many years, making a home filled with her children and their friends.

When her youngest child reached middle school, Florence took a job in the TriTown special education programs in the Wilton, Westport, and Weston school systems, where she was a trusted friend and mentor to many children struggling with learning disabilities.

Upon retirement, Florence and Norman moved to the Cape where she enjoyed time with friends and her true first family, the Corcoran’s. Florence never stopped reaching out, making friends and helping others, even to the home care people she met in her last days.

Florence Adams is sorely missed by all who knew her. She gave to her children the value of hard work, the love of nature, and the pleasures of art and music. Her joy was her family and she was proud to have raised four good people, always encouraging them to follow their own stars. Joy and love for you always, Florence.