WELLS, Florence E. "Flo" (Celebrase) - of Quincy, formerly a long time resident of Medford & Somerville, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2024 surrounded by her loving children.   She was 97 years old.

Florence was born in Medford to the late Genoveve and Salvatore Celebrase who immigrated from Italy.  She was the last surviving sibling of 7 brothers and sisters.

As a child she was very active and enjoyed running which yielded her the nick name "Flash".   She never finished high school, instead opting to go to work to help support her family.  During World War II, she worked at the Watertown Arsenal making shells for the war effort.  In her early  30's, she met and married the love of her life.  She had various jobs thru out her life, but none compared to taking care of her three children and dealing with their shenanigans.

She was passionate about gardening with her sisters. She enjoyed making people laugh with her whitty sense of humor. She was an avid candlepin bowler. She loved watching golf. She loved playing Bingo.  She enjoyed yearly apple picking trips with the family.   She looked forward to a stop at the Topsfield Fair to see Johnny Cash and June Carter or the Jack D'Johns.  She lived for vacations to Hampton Beach or simple day trips to Revere Beach followed by a footlong hotdog at Dannys.   She often held trivia contests at family get togethers and if you knew Humphrey Bogart was the answer, you walked away with a 5 dollar bill.  She knew three words to the song LaBamba but sang them with glee.  If you didn't have Italian bread in your house whilst she was visiting, she gave you a 2 star review.

As a teenager, she played hooky in order to see Frank Sinatra in Concert.   In her 70's, she danced with John Travolta in Boston, showing him some new moves.    In her 80's she got serenaded by John Mayer at a Great Woods Concert.  She loved to dance, particularly to Elvis.  You couldn't stop her and her sisters from shaking up a dance floor.

Back in her early twenties, she contracted a rare disease which resulted in a life expectancy of two years.  She pulled thru that.  Two and a half years ago they gave her a month to live.  She said 'NOPE, not yet.'  She enjoyed over 700 various 'last meals' including shrimp, lobster, fried clams, fried chicken, hot dogs and ravioli.  She left us on Her terms.  She squeezed out every single minute of life and spent it with her family.  She was a miracle, a blessing, and a true joy to be around.

She was devoted to her late husband, Ordie (Marty) Wells.  She is survived by her daughter Teresa (Teri) Amuzzini, her daughter Carol and husband Robert Wall, and her son Martin (Marty) and his wife Solange Wells.  She says goodbye to her cherished grandchildren Jonathan (Jonny) and his wife Kristen Wells, Christopher Amuzzini and his love Ellie Kaufman, Jessica, Katie, the late Nicholas, Martin Jr (Marty)  and Nicholas Silva, who is currently serving in the Navy,  Ashley and her husband Alex Meade, Robert (Bobby) Wall and his fiancé Tessa as well as all her great grandchildren Lillian, Jaxson, Eli, Sadie, Olivia , AJ, Charlotte, & Hayleigh.

She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews including Jack & his wife Donna Mountain & family, Charles (Chuckie) and his wife Joyce Mountain & family, Roberta and her husband  Dennis Bean, and Doris and her husband Robert (Bob) Snell.

Flo was the cherished sister of the late Salvatore, Giuseppe, Robert, Mary (McDonald), Eleanor (Mountain) and Gloria (Perry).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, 110 Chapin Road, Hudson, MA, or

Funeral procession from the George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq.) Somerville, Thursday morning at 10:30, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Clement Church, Medford at 11:00.

Visiting hours in the Funeral Home, Thursday morning May 9, 2024, from 8:30-10:30.

Relatives and friends invited.

Interment Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue , 110 Chapin Road, Hudson, MA, or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284-9168