FLORENCE ELLEN MATTHEWS (CRAIGIE)

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FLORENCE ELLEN MATTHEWS (nee CRAIGIE) Suddenly and unexpectedly at home, Mom left us to join her Ray on Sunday, August 1, 2010. Dad passed away February 14 and she missed him immensely. She simply had no desire or energy to go on living without the man she had spent 75 years of her life with. To remember her forever are her daughters Lori, Barb (Dave), Val (Doug) and Rae (Dale), grandchildren Bonnie, Jamie, Amanda (Ryan), Samantha (James), Tiffany (Ben), Cole and Carlen, great-grandson Matthew as well as new great-granddaughter Charlie, whom she got to spend time with before her passing. Mom was predeceased by her sisters Edna and Margaret and brother Jim as well as many brothers and sisters-in-law. She also leaves behind to share our grief and memories her brother Doug (Donna), sister Irene and in-laws Eileen, Olive (Dave), Eileen and Gil along with many, many nieces and nephews who knew and loved their Auntie Flo. Mom was born May 22, 1919 and lived in St. Vital almost her entire life. She was the eldest of six children and spoke often of her days on the farm on St. Anne's Rd. having to slaughter chickens and herd cows - both of which she hated doing. During the war years Mom wanted to go to Vancouver and join the WASPS but stayed behind to help her own mother. It was something she always regretted as she wanted to travel and see the world. Mom and Dad dated for many years, during which time she had other beaus and other marriage proposals as she was a very attractive woman but chose Dad and finally married him in 1943. They built their family home on Berrydale in 1946 where both of them resided until their deaths. Although Mom had some regrets about how her life turned out she always said she never regretted having us girls. We were always a close and caring family and I told Mom that was a testament to the values they instilled in us during our formative years. Always a hard worker Mom went back to work in the late 1950s in a time when mothers didn't work out of the house. She worked as a bookkeeper at Ogilvie Oats and AEI Tele-communications until she retired in her early 60s. Mom wanted us to have a nice home and advantages that she didn't have growing up but she never realized they gave us the best gift of all a stable and loving home. Mom's favourite pastimes were going out to dinners and theatre, listening to music, dancing and camping. She liked all kinds of music but especially songs of the 1930s and 1940s as that was an era of her life she enjoyed the most. In her later years she couldn't get out as much as she wanted to but was always happy when any members of her family were around. Mom was a smart, attractive, driven and courageous woman, even if she didn't think so, and we will miss her with all our hearts. Bye for now Mom ................... A graveside service will be held at the Green Acres Funeral Home on Hwy #1 on Monday, August 9 at 1:00 p.m. with a Come and Go reception from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 88 Frederick Ave. in St. Vital. In lieu of flowers, we ask that a donation be made to a charity of your choice. GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery 1 Green Acres Lane, Springfield (204) 222-3241 Hwy #1 East inside the Perimeter at Winnipeg Condolences may be sent to: www.greenacresfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 07, 2010