FLORENCE MARTINE SHERFEY

SHERFEY, Florence Martine Florence Martine (Sherman) Sherfey passed away in Holliston, MA surrounded by friends and family on March 4th, 2026 at the young age of 61 after bravely fighting a years-long battle with Frontal Temporal Dementia. Flory, as she was lovingly known, was born and raised in Great Neck, NY as the younger of two children to proud parents, Larry and Marion Ilionski Sherman. Flory was a child of two worlds: unbridled optimism and hard realism. Her gentle and kind father was a naturally charismatic man raised with generous and infectious excitement for what possibilities the future may hold. Her loving and devoted mother was herself a survivor of the Holocaust. Hiding from the Nazis in the forests of France after escaping occupied Paris, a young Marion learned life was hard and you needed to adapt and persevere to survive. As such, Flory was an amalgam of resilience, tenacity, kindness and love. A fierce protector of her family and those to whom she called friend, Flory was a gentle and compassionate woman with a quick smile and an easy laugh. She would hold you and cry with you but then tell you to get yourself together and plow forward. Flory loved her family, friends, cats and all things entertainment – theatre, TV, movies and magazines. Flory inherited her love of sports from her father, a sports writer with the Long Island Press. You could always find her watching any of the New England teams, or her beloved Mets, while finishing the day or taking care of the house. Her keen eye for fashion came from her mother, a fashion plate herself. In mere minutes she was able to size someone up and put together a complete wardrobe with options and colors they would never have had the courage to try themselves. And they would look amazing. She was complicated, simple, prickly, warm, reserved, and gregarious. She was absolutely the best wife, mother, and friend anyone could hope to know. Flory is survived by her devoted and loving husband, Mitchell and adored son, Jonathan. Her kind and gentle ways will be missed, and her pragmatic view of how to handle what life throws at you will guide us as we grieve. Even after her passing, she is taking care of us. We love you, Flory. Funeral Service Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 1:00 pm at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington St., (Rt. 16) Newton, MA. Interment following at Newton Cemetery, Newton. Please contact Brezniak Funeral Directors at (617) 969-0800 for Shiva information. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Flory's favorite charity The Purr-Fect Cat Shelter at https://www.purrfectcatshelter.org/onlinedonations