Flora Clara Mascio

The youngest of a family of 4, she was a spirited young girl, who enjoyed running away to spend time with her much loved friends and relatives who lived nearby.

As a young woman she witnessed her home town be destroyed and the loss of friends during WWII. The family relocated to Sulmona, where her father had opened the Pastificio Maiella. There she learned the pasta business and worked alongside her father for several years. She married Antonio Mascio in 1949 and had

3 children, Marcella, Gennaro, and Fiorella. They worked together in the pastificio until 1955 when Antonio was offered a lead position at a pasta plant in Tripoli. After 4 years, political unrest prompted the family to start thinking about a new life somewhere else. In 1959, the family immigrated to Seattle, with the help of Joseph Forte and an employment opportunity with a local pasta manufacturer.

Flora immediately went to work as a seamstress, riding her bicycle to work because she never cared to learn to drive! In 1961 their 4th child, Anna, was born in Seattle. Soon, Flora started making and selling fresh raviolis for friends and family to help supplement the growing family's financial needs.

She spent many years working, wanting the best for her family. And she succeeded! Along with the hard work of her husband and the help of her children, Mascio's Pasta became a successful business.

After the sale of the business, to keep busy, she volunteered at Fred Hutchinson cancer center helping Italian patients that came here for treatment and their families. She became friends with all whom she helped and even opened her home to them.

She also hosted students from all over the world, several of which came to study and do research for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

She was preceded in death by Antonio (Tony) Mascio, her husband for 41 years.

She is survived by her children, Marcella, Gennaro (and wife, Roz), Fiorella, and Anna, along with grandchildren Ernest Merlino (and wife Therese), Anthony Merlino, Angela Mascio, Anthony Mascio (and wife Katie), Piero D'Amore (and wife Alessia), Cristina D'Amore, Monique Mascio, Adriana Varchetta, Antonio Varchetta, and great grandchildren Cristian D'Amore, Lorenzo Mascio, and Vincent Mascio.