Florence Mason

Florence June Stashak was born on May 30, 1927 in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Frank and Marie (Gritsavage) Stashak and the youngest of five children, three older brothers and a sister. When "Flo" was 13 years old her family moved to Scranton. Following high school, Flo graduated from Casements College in Daytona Beach, Florida.

After college, Flo spent one year with American airlines as a stewardess. She then joined Pan American World Airways and flew out of New York on transatlantic flights. On one flight to Shannon, Ireland she met the pilot, Max C. Mason. They had their first date bike riding together in the countryside near Limerick. Their love blossomed and Flo and Max married at St. Rose Catholic Church on June 3, 1950 in Santa Rosa, California. The newlyweds moved to Max's hometown, Fresno, and have lived for almost sixty years together raising their three children, Sharon, Susan and Max C.

While Max worked with Industrial Indemnity Insurance, as well as weekends spent as a pilot with the Navy, Flo was actively engaged with her children at home. She was an awesome cook and prepared scrumptious meals for her family as well as many friends, children's friends and relatives. Her holiday dinners were particularly memorable. Flo loved her friends and time spent volunteering with the Fresno LARCS, St. Agnes Hospital, as a Girl Scout Leader and at her children's schools. Mom had a passion for politics and kept busy helping her party. She also thoroughly enjoyed the many friends she made while working at Liberty House. Those who know Flo and Max know how active they were as a couple and with their children. There was backpacking, skiing and hiking, with swimming, cycling and horseback riding lasting into their later years. Flo particularly loved her horse, "Myrtle." One favorite memory was the family's first backpack trip where Flo took each step of the 11 day, 90 mile trek, and cooked every meal over an open fire!

Upon retirement, Flo and Max took off on their adventures. They both loved to fly. Max and his "co-pilot" flew often for dinner to Harris Ranch, and all over California to air shows. Flo and Max were members of the "flying farmers" and enjoyed many wonderful hours with their flying friends. They were also fortunate to travel throughout the United States, as well as to Singapore, Thailand, Bali, Hong Kong, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Flo is survived by Max, her loving husband of almost 60 years; daughters, Sharon and Stan Shamoon, and Susan and Mike Steele; son Max Mason and Andrew Metcalfe; sister-in-law, Elaine Mason; sister, Jean Tippet and brother Ted Stashak. Nana also has her grandchildren, Stephanie and Adam Shamoon, Erin Steele, Eric and Stephanie Steele and their child (Nana's great-grandchild), Lincoln Steele.

Max's loving care, her Catholic faith, as well as her dog "Cookie" kept Flo very content in her last years. We all loved our wonderful wife, mom, and nana. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church-Fresno, on Thursday, October 22, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the SPCA Animal Shelter at 103 S. Hughes Ave, Fresno, Ca., 93706.

Cards-letters may be sent to Max and Flo's home or P.O. Box 190, Kingsburg, Ca., 93631, Attn: Max C. Mason family.