FLORENCE HANNAH KNAPP

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FLORENCE HANNAH KNAPP Peacefully on March 6, 2011, at Teulon Hunter Memorial Hospital, Florence (Floss) Knapp left us to meet Reg, her husband, who had been waiting for her in Heaven for many years. He will take her hand in hand to meet Jesus, just as they dedicated their lives to him many years ago, walking hand in hand to the altar at a Christian meeting in the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Floss had just celebrated her 100th birthday on November 23, 2010 and had a birthday party in the Inwood Hall to celebrate. Despite our first heavy snow storm of the winter, over 300 people came to help her celebrate. She was so happy and honoured to see so many of her friends and relatives come out to help her celebrate and so many more who couldn't come who sent her cards and good wishes. Floss was born in Winnipeg to her parents, Robert and Nellie Carey, who had come to Winnipeg from England right after they had gotten married. When she was two years old her parents took her back to England to visit family. They planned on returning to Canada on the Titanic but fortunately all the tickets were sold so they had to return on another ship. When Floss was three years old her parents moved to a homestead in the Clematis district to take up farming. It was a hard life but a happy life. Often Floss and her Mom would have to tend the farm while her Dad went to Winnipeg to work at Eatons to make enough money to make ends meet. Floss loved to dance and would ride her horse or in winter go by snowshoes many miles to a dance in a one-room schoolhouse in the district. She met and married Reg Knapp. They first lived in a one-room schoolhouse converted into a house in the Neveton district and farmed there. Later as there was no school for their daughter, Donna, to attend they moved to the Monar district west of Inwood and continued farming there. Floss' parents lived in their own house on the farm at Neveton and moved their house to the farm at Inwood and lived there also. When Floss was busy helping Reg with farm chores or working in the hayfield in the summer, Nellie would help out with the housework and cooking. Life in the Knapp house was not quiet. On weekends family would come to visit often with 10 to 20 people gathering around the table for a meal. Floss would always throw something together so that there was plenty for all. Hunting season was an exciting time when friends and relatives would come to stay, first to get some ducks or geese and then to get a deer and stock up on their meat for the winter. During the week friends would come over for the evening to play cards and visit. Reg and Floss sold the farm and retired to Inwood. Nellie Carey went with them as Robert had died by that time. They had many good years in their home in Inwood. Unfortunately Reg died during that time and so did Nellie. Floss then moved into Inwood Manor until there was a fire and Floss had to evacuate quickly through her front window. She was so thankful to Ralph Hazelton for pulling her out through the window and saving her life. Floss then moved to Gateway Manor in Teulon where she lived until she died. Floss has always been independent and wanted to stay in her own home with her friends close by. She so enjoyed her dear friend Lilly dropping by to watch the game shows on TV and enjoyed all of Lilly's delicious baking and vegetables from her garden. She enjoyed the gatherings with the Wool Lady on Mondays and those who came to play music in the Manor. Floss had a full life and enjoyed it to the end. She leaves behind by her daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Victor Borgford, grandchildren, Leslie Carey (Cherry), Tim Borgford, great-grandchildren, Tyler Camplin, Mandy Carey and many others who call her Mom and Gran including Jon Silliker, Curtis Monkman and Lorna Coey. Other close relatives are her sisters-in-law, Doris Knapp and Gerry Knapp and numerous other nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the Home Care workers at Gateway Manor who have helped Floss to stay in her own home these last years and all the staff at the Teulon Hospital who were so kind to her during her last stay there. A celebration of her life will be held at 1:00 p.m. from the Inwood Hall on Friday, March 11, 2011 with Pastor Claire Speary officiating. Interment to follow in the Inwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Floss would like donations to go the Inwood Over 50 Club, Box 301, Inwood, MB R0C 1P0 or the Inwood Cemetery, Box 84, Inwood, MB R0C 1P0. PRAIRIELAND FUNERAL HOME 447 SELKIRK AVE, WINNIPEG 226-7581 OR 866-661-7555

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 09, 2011