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House of Flowers celebrates 40 years of service

Date: 5/10/2010

May 10, 2010

By Kaitlyn Schroyer

Staff Intern



EAST LONGMEADOW -- As flower shops are becoming scarce in the area, some are flourishing. The East Longmeadow House of Flowers, located at 60 Shaker Rd., is blooming like never before.

The shop celebrated its 40th year in business on Mother's Day weekend, and the House of Flowers has been family run now for three generations with Lois Gaboury DeVoie and her daughter, Mary Nehmer, currently at its head.

"Lois' mother, Anne Gaboury, started the shop in 1970," Nehmer said. "It's a family business that's been passed down."

Anne Gaboury, nicknamed Dolly, worked at a florist's shop in Springfield when she decided to start her own flower business. Originally located for 29 years on North Main Street, the shop is the last remaining flower shop in East Longmeadow.

"Family has worked here from day one," Mariann Bishop, a friend of the shop, said. "You can't beat the service and the good attitude."

The House of Flowers is particularly known for its great service. DeVoie and Nehmer are known to go all out to get people their flowers.

"They go out of their way to get people their flowers," Bishop said. "They will go off hours sometimes."

A shop for all occasions, the House of Flowers also sells balloons, fruit, gourmet baskets, silk flower arrangements, wreaths, vase arrangements and more. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We love it," Nehmer said. "We just love flowers."