On a busy Tuesday afternoon in late April, Marguerite Mirino Hancock is hard at work in the kitchen of Mirino’s Pizza, located at 253 N. Spring Garden Ave. in DeLand.
Marguerite, alongside her husband, Joel, is continuing the legacy of the family-owned and -operated restaurant that has been serving up delicious Italian pizza, deli and bakery items since 1976.
Marguerite’s mother, Mary Lou Mirino, passed away on April 3 of this year, and Marguerite sat down with Beacon staff to reflect on the quiet strength and fortitude of her mother — in relation to the success of Mirino’s Pizza and as a beloved matriarch to the Mirino family.
BELOVED MATRIARCH PASSES — Mary Lou Mirino is survived by her daughter, Marguerite Hancock, Marguerite’s husband, Joel, son Philip Mirino Jr. and Philip’s wife, Heather. She is also survived by grandchildren Micah Mirino, Joel Hancock II, Jonah Mirino, Dominick Hancock, Correna Rodriguez, Correna’s husband, Roberto, and their children, Layla, Lily and Phoenix, as well as nieces and nephews.
“She had an infectious smile. People were just so comfortable coming up to her. There was a lot more to her than people realized,” Marguerite said. “She had a way of making you know that everything was going to be all right. Even when it seemed like it wasn’t going to be, you just knew if Mimi said it was going to be OK, then everything was going to be all right. It might be a rough road to get there, but in the end, she was always right.”
Mary Lou grew up “in the projects of Brooklyn” and lost both parents by the age of 17. She worked on Wall Street as a young woman. Marguerite remembers a deep well of strength in her mother.
“[She was] a very joyful person… always positive. Even in the darkest of storms, she always kept her chin up and never wavered from her faith,” Marguerite said.
Mary Lou met her husband, Philip, in Brooklyn, and, in 1974, they relocated to DeLand in search of opportunity for their family. By September of 1976, Mirino’s was up and running. “They were a really good balance together. I am very honored to carry on the legacy, because that’s what this is,” Marguerite said.
Marguerite reflected upon the personal significance of operating a multi-generational, family-owned business and how she and her husband, Joel, are continuing the tradition that Marguerite’s parents established more than 45 years ago.
“This place is how I met my husband,” Marguerite said. “My dad gave [Joel] a job when he was 17, and by 18, we started dating. Had this place not been here, who knows?”
“My husband spent 30 years with the DeLand police department, and when he retired, he took over the baking of the bread and everything. To me, it’s really neat that he wants to carry on the legacy together,” Marguerite said.
“To [Mary Lou and Phil] — this place was a restaurant of course, but it’s more than that. My husband and I kind of coined the phrase, ‘We’re pizza with a higher purpose,’ Marguerite said. “We are here to show people that, if you need prayer, we’re here. If you need a hug, we’re here. If you need just a smile, we’re here. So you leave full physically, and full spiritually. We want to represent the love of Christ and also provide an incredible product.”
“It’s really important that people feel welcome here. A key thing my parents taught me is you don’t have customers, you have friends and family,” Marguerite said. “That’s how you treat them, like a friend or family. It makes a difference.”
