Obituary of Florence Rollins Wilde

 Florence Mae Rollins Wilde, Flossie, Flo, Mom, Nannie, an Army brat, born in Fort Totten, Queens, New York on April 27, 1923.

     Florence passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 30th, 2023 at the age of 100 years, 3 months and 3 days.

     Florence’s family relocated to Cape Cod in Chatham, Massachusetts, where her father became the first and only police officer in Chatham.  Later he became the first and longest serving Police Chief of Chatham.

     In Chatham she met the love of her life Phillips B. Wilde, Jr.  Florence’s father was Phil’s Commanding Officer in the United States Coast Guard.  Since Florence was in training at Mass Memorial Hospital to be a nurse, her father would not consent to the marriage.  Florence and Phil eloped to Maryland to get married.  Since married women were not allowed to be in nurses training at that time, she was kicked out.

     Florence and Phil returned to Chatham to open a fish business.  When Phil later took a job in Boston they relocated to Newton, Massachusetts.

     Florence was a “Jill” of many trades.  She was the hostess of a very upscale establishment, the Simpson House in Newton, that catered to celebrities, sports stars, and elite in the Boston area!

     After the Simpson House, Florence taught Nursery School, then as the Waterfront Director instructed swimming at Camp May Day and Mount Ida,  After installing a pool in her backyard, she continued to offer swimming lessons from her home.

     Moving to Florida in 1969, she and Phil bought an apartment house (Northmore), in downtown Saint Petersburg and a laundromat (Norgetown) by St. Pete High School. 

     After liquidating both businesses, Florence decided at the age of 55 that she still wanted to be a nurse.  She obtained a job at Colonial Manor as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).  She challenged the boards to earn her LPN.  She went to St. Petersburg Junior College at night after working all day to obtain her RN.  Not satisfied, she attended St. Leo’s College to be awarded her BA in Psychology.  She began working on her master’s degree but gave it up to care for her beloved grandson Paco.

     In four years, Florence went from a CNA at Colonial Manor to the Director of Nursing (DON)She brought that facility up to an A rating.  Florence then moved to Sunny Shores (now Westminister), the facility of Cocoon fame.  She was actually asked to be an extra in the movie, but declined saying, “She was too busy for that nonsense.”

     When Florence’s husband, Phil, was at the end stages of battling cancer, she reluctantly left Sunny Shores to serve as the DON at Dolphin View, very close to home should she need to get home quickly in case of an emergency.

     After the death of her husband of 51 years, Florence took on the mammoth task of being a “Nanny Nannie” to her two years old grandson Evan, when his mom went back to work.  When Evan went to preschool, Nannie went with him, launching her new career.  She was there so much volunteering, the principal asked her to be a substitute teacher.  She continued to sub taking the most difficult jobs, even writing curriculum and teaching nursing students. She continued to sub until she was 92.  The faculty and staff at the various schools loved her and always sang her praises.

     It’s hard to imagine life without Florence.  She has been a force to be reckoned with for over a century.

    RIP you “tough old broad” as the Southside Fundamental teachers fondly called her.

     Florence is preceded in death by her mother, Mary Rollins, father Ben Rollins, Sr, her loving husband Phil, brothers Frank and Bobby Rollins, sister, Helen Confalone, and grandson Francis Vazquez (aka Paco).

     Florence leaves behind her son, Phil Wilde (Anne), daughters Mary Harding (Howie), Vicki Wilde, and Patti Billington (Eddie), and her grandchildren Woody Harding, Jennifer Cotter (Jeff), Andy Harding (Liz), Alvin Handler, Alicia Billington MD, PhD (Josh). Evan Billington (Shelby) and eight great grandchildren.