Martha Hurlbut Felice

MARTHA HURLBUT FELICE 1928 - 2015 Martha Hurlbut Felice, 87, of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away on October 31, 2015. She was born in Ava, New York on March 4, 1928 to Dorothy and Hollis Hurlbut. She grew up on a small farm and relished telling stories about the experience. After attending a one-room schoolhouse through the 8th grade, she graduated high school at 16, and worked a year before attending the Eastman School of Dentistry in Rochester, NY. Although she only worked for two years as a hygienist, she retained a lifelong interest in dentistry and was proud that other family members entered the profession. While in Rochester, Martha met her future husband, Joseph P. Felice. They married in 1946 and enjoyed 59 years together, raising five children in Lockport, NY. After Joe retired from teaching, they split their time from 1985 to 1993 between West Branch, NY and St. Petersburg, FL before becoming full-time Florida residents. Martha and Joe traveled throughout the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. A natural athlete who enjoyed all kinds of physical activity, Martha threw a mean softball, took up golf in her 60s, and made quite a name for herself on the shuffleboard courts at Winston Park Northeast (FL). She was also a sought-after teammate for Pinochle and other card games. Martha loved being a wife, mother and homemaker. She was devoted to her children, providing steady support and encouragement across the years. Never a stranger to hard work, her home was always spotless and full of items that she had created, food she had canned, and furniture that she had refinished. She was a superb cook, known for her spaghetti sauce and Parker House rolls. Martha could pull together a delicious meal at a moment's notice, and no one ever went away hungry. Her cheerful friendly demeanor and ready smile seemed to bring out the best in everyone. Martha adored babies and was always fascinated by the way childrens' minds worked. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and other organizations, and was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Lockport, NY) and Holy Family Catholic Church (St. Petersburg, FL). Martha was predeceased by her husband in 2005. She is survived by five children, Hollis (Linda), Martha, Cynthia (Jean), Mark (Sheryl), and Loraine; two granddaughters Nicole (Tony) Bilzi and Renee (Doug) Dupell; and one great grandson Oliver Bilzi. On Friday, November 6 at 10am a mass will be held in Martha's honor at Holy Family Catholic Church (200 78th Ave NE, St. Petersburg) followed by a reception from 2pm to 4pm at Winston Park Building 400, #126. A celebration of her life is planned for next summer in upstate NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.