Florence H. Pinard, at the age of 90, died peacefully surrounded by family, in her home in Montpelier on March 14, 2011. Florence was born in Lyndonville, Vermont on January 27, 1921 to Aime and Alice Hebert, the seventh of nine children. She was an active young woman, enjoying swimming in the river, playing basketball, captain of Lyndon Institute's girls' team, skating, skiing and developing her sewing and knitting expertise. She learned to play the saxophone, fulfilling her aspiration to play in local band concerts. She enjoyed driving her brothers' cars, golfing, teaching sports to her nephews Ronald and David, and making clothes for her family. Florence's career was a switchboard operator with the New England Telephone which she began while she was still in high school. It was a job she enjoyed for 30 years, and she remained a member of the Telecom Pioneers throughout. She met her husband, John Paul Pinard at a dance in Montpelier and they married two and a half years later on Sept 29, 1951 in Lyndonville. They honeymooned in New York City where they attended a Tony Bennett concert and visited the Statue of Liberty. Florence and Johnny raised five children in Montpelier. She returned to the telephone company once her youngest child was school-aged. She juggled her family and work responsibilities by working a split shift. This allowed her to be home when the children left for school and when they returned home for dinner. Despite a full time job, she sewed and knitted her children's clothes and hosted many parties for extended family. Summer fun included barbeques at Crystal Lake. After raising their children, Florence and Johnny enjoyed travelling to visit her sisters. Florence remained a good cook and a talented knitter. She was proud of her raspberry and rhubarb patches, and was always ready for a game of cribbage. After her husband's death, she remained the matriarch of the family and was the focal point for family news. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Johnny, who died on October 18, 1993. She also was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Francis, Leo, and Adrian. She is survived by sisters Olivine Perrault, Leona Hebert, Pauline Duchaine and brother, Armand Hebert and his wife Priscilla, all residing in Lyndonville. In addition, she leaves children, Jim Pinard and his wife Debby (Montpelier), Diane Holzem and her husband Peter (Farmington, NM), Karen Oakes and her husband John (Syracuse, NY), Michelle Pinard and her husband Martin Barker (Findon, Scotland), and Lori Pinard (East Montpelier) and seven grandchildren: Jon and wife Courtney, Andrew and William Pinard; Fred and Emilie Oakes; and, William and Callum Barker. She will be remembered for her exceptional generosity and dedication to family. Her family was the focus of her life, and her greatest joy. She lives on in hearts of all who loved her. Calling hours will be held at Guare and Sons Funeral home (30 School St, Montpelier) on Thursday (March 17, 2011) evening between 5-7pm. There will be a memorial mass on Friday (March 18, 2011) at 11.00 at St Augustine's Church (Barre Street, Montpelier) with internment following at the Green Mount Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, (CVH&H), 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 or at www.cvhhh.org Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com.