FLORENCE IRENE HOYE -

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FLORENCE IRENE HOYE 1911 - 2011 Peacefully on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at Misericordia Health Centre, Florence Irene Hoye passed away 16 days shy of her 100th birthday. Florence was born in Winnipeg on February 26, 1911 and was a lifelong resident of West Kildonan. Predeceased by parents, Alice and William Hoye in 1954, brother William (Bill) in 1999 and sister-in-law Dorothy in 2010. Survived by nephew Donald (Donna) Hoye; niece Diane (Randy) Oystreck, as well as great-nieces and great-nephews, Adam, Jaclyn and Jonathan Oystreck; Bree Ann (Vlad) and Bryce Hoye. Honouring Florence's wishes, her body has been donated to the University of Manitoba, Department of Anatomy. No memorial service will be held (at this time). She would like friends to remember her in their own way. Flowers gratefully declined. Should friends desire, donations to the Winnipeg Humane Society, 45 Hurst Way, Winnipeg, MB R3T 0R3 would be appreciated. - Florence. As the determined and independent woman she was, the above was the obituary she wrote for herself. Born in Winnipeg, Florence remembered living all summer in a tent while her father built their first home on Seven Oaks in 1916, where she lived until 1961. Schooled in West Kildonan until grade eight, she then entered secretarial school and then the work force at age 14. After a few different jobs, she landed at Allis Chalmers Rumley, where she was a valued employee for 48 years. After retirement and a trip around the world, she went back to work for Office Overload, mostly with Department of Indian Affairs, until age 75. Florence never married. She referred to herself as an unclaimed treasure, and attributed her longevity (and wit) to having never married. She lived with her parents, and her brother and sister-in-law for their whole married life and was a second mother to Don and Diane, and later Adam. She moved into her first solo apartment at the age of 98. She was a beloved Auntie Flo to the large extended family, never forgetting anyone at Christmas. Florence was a lifelong traveller, seeing the world , from Russia and China in the 1970s, to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Middle - and Far-East, Africa, South Pacific, South America, Galapagos Islands, and all over North America. Despite a few persistent health problems, she never let setbacks like these stop her from taking new trips and trying new things. In her travels she did everything from climbing a mountain and walking on the Great Wall of China to riding camels and elephants. She always loved dancing, bowling into her 90s, crosswords and The Jumble, her card groups in Transcona and Elmwood, seniors bus trips, and the cottage at Matlock (in her early years). Florence also loved shopping and was a constant fixture on the streetcar / transit bus until the day before she was hospitalized in October. Specifically, Eaton's and The Bay downtown were her favourite haunts where she frequently enjoyed finding great deals. She shopped at the Bay on its opening day (the new downtown store) and was honoured on her 99th birthday by the manager and staff with a special luncheon at the Paddlewheel restaurant. Auntie Flo will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her family and large extended family here, the MacGregors, Oystrecks, Smoluks, Yarishs and Debows, and many relatives and friends here and from around the world that she met in her travels. Florence was born and passed at Misericordia. The family wishes to thank all of the wonderful staff at Misericordia Health Centre, 5th floor Cedar Grove, for their compassionate care.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 19, 2011