Mary Anne Lavore:  

MY LIFE HAS TURNED OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN ANYTHING I COULD HAVE IMAGINED! BETTER THAT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT.... I MARRIED MY BEST FRIEND AND ARE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY - AND THEY ALL SAID IT WOULDN'T LAST! SO MUCH FOR WHAT THEY KNOW. WE'VE HAD OUR UPS & DOWNS BUT WE ARE SURVIVORS. WE'VE HAD 3 CHILDREN - A BOY AND 2 GIRLS AND NOW HAVE 5 GRANDCHILDREN - 2 BOYS AND 3 GIRLS. THEY ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. I GUESS YOU CAN SAY I'M A REAL FAMILY TYPE - THEY COME FIRST AND I LOVE BEING WITH THEM. FAMILY AND GOD ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME AND MY HUSBAND JOE. WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS FOR OUR LIVES AND ENJOY TRAVELING. WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO ITALY 3 TIMES AND WOULD LOVE TO LIVE THERE, BUT WHO KNOWS? WE FEEL LIKE WE GO "HOME" WHENEVER WE VISIT THERE. IT'S SO MUCH A PART OF US AND WHO WE ARE. WE MOVED AWAY FROM NEW YORK IN '74 BECAUSE OF HIS CAREER - PHYSICAL THERAPIST - AND FINALLY SETTLED IN FLORIDA IN '84 AND LOVE IT. WE'RE NEAR MY PARENTS BUT MOST OF ALL, WE'RE NEAR THE BEACH! LOVE IT AND THE WARM WEATHER. WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE UP NORTH ANYMORE - TOO COLD AND TOO MUCH STRESS IN L.I. AND N.Y. BU...Expand for more