Florence Magliozzi, hairstylist, at 89

Florence (Gismondi) "Gram" Magliozzi, a vivacious, self-taught hairstylist and owner of the former Flo's Beauty Shop in Roslindale, died Jan. 21 at Woodbriar Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Wilmington after a long illness. She was 89 and had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer.

"Her business was quite the beauty shop and a great part of her life. It was really hopping there. Every woman went there," said her daughter-in-law, Marie Magliozzi of Middleton.

She was born in Boston, the oldest daughter of Italian immigrants. Mrs. Magliozzi worked most of her life. After school she helped out her parents at their grocery store on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain.

As a child, she was often found tending to the hair of her dolls or her friends. Her mother acknowledged that she had a gift for hair styling and steered her in that direction, said her daughter-in-law.

At age 14 she traded her textbooks and pencils for a hair dryer and curling iron and began working as a hairdresser. For the next 75 years, she shampooed, cut, blow-dried, and styled her way into the hearts of her customers.

"She was a cornerstone of the neighborhood and had many friends," said her daughter-in-law. "I think what she liked most about hairdressing was the people that came to the shop and all the gossiping. People confided in her and she kept everyone's secrets."

In 1942, she married Joseph Magliozzi. Less than a decade later, he died of a heart attack, leaving her to raise their two children as a single mother.

"She was a strong but kind woman and very much the matriarch of our whole family," said her daughter-in-law.

She was the sole proprietor of Flo's Beauty Shop, based out of her home in Roslindale. In 1993, she sold the establishment and moved to Foxborough to live with her daughter, Olga, and her family.

The change in location did not affect the business. Mrs. Magliozzi would return to Roslindale weekly for in-home styling visits with her clients.

Her customer loyalty transcended aesthetics. She was also known to help them run household errands or drive them to appointments.

For the past two years, she lived with her son, Rusty, and his family in Middleton.

Outside of her hairstyling and efforts as a good samaritan, Mrs. Magliozzi was an avid ballroom dancer who made it out every Friday night until she was in her early 80s.

Mrs. Magliozzi also enjoyed traveling and cooking her unforgettable Italian dishes for her family.

In addition to her children, and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Magliozzi leaves a sister, Celia Denehy of Malden; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was said Jan. 25 in St. Joseph's Church in Medford. Burial was in St. Michael's Cemetery in Roslindale.