FLORENCE MAY KELLEY

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

FLORENCE MAY KELLEY (nee Mavins) With sadness we announce that on February 24, 2011 Florence May Kelley passed away peacefully at the age of 98. She was predeceased by her husband Ritchie Buchan Kelley (Dick), her parents Georgina and Herbert Mavins, her sister-in-law Audrey Mavins, brothers-in-law Bob, Bill and George Kelley and sisters-in-law Lily, Joan, and Molly Kelley, childhood friend Agnes Lamont and many special friends. Left to celebrate her life and lovingly remembered by her family, daughter Ellen (Tom), her brother Bob, her sister Grace, her special cousins Janice McDonald and Glenda Hildebrand of Vernon and long time family friends. She was blessed with many nieces and nephews, spending many occasions with Peggy (Dave) Lee, Robb Mavins, Joan (Roy) Thomson, Bud (Lorraine) Kelley, June (Chuck) Huggard, and grand nieces and nephews Lindsey, Kathryn, Mike (Colleen), Doug (Brenda), Corrie, Jill (Brent), Sarah, Margot (Neil), Ross and their children. Born in 1912 in Winnipeg, Flo Kelley lived most of her life in the West End. Grand Beach was a wonderful place for her in her youth and early adult years and here she met Dick, a Scot. Wonderful friendships and fun times were enjoyed there. After Daniel McIntyre Collegiate, Flo went to Success Business College and cherished the opportunity she had to work along side her Dad at the Elm Theatre and the CN Station restaurant. In 1938 Flo and Dick married. Being of Scottish and English heritage herself, this strengthened her connection with Scotland. She enjoyed his family, their humour, the tales of Scotland, the music, beauty and culture until the end. After the birth of their daughter Ellen, she and Dick moved to Ingersoll Street where they spent many happy years and made life-long friends. The women's Coffee Club get togethers forged relationships that became lasting friendships. Flo belonged to St. Matthews Anglican Church and after marriage was actively involved in Harstone United Church. She contributed to the efforts of the Women's Auxiliary, participated in the church choir and involved Ellen in church activities. The arts provided great pleasure to her. Music was especially important to her. At the sound of any music you would find Flo moving to the beat and singing along. Whether on her way downtown or out to a performance her mode of transportation was mostly walking. At 55 she joined the YMHA on Hargrave Street and enthusiastically tackled all the activities they had to offer - swimming, yoga, belly dancing, square dancing, weight lifting, aerobics, badminton. The women's locker room became her home away from home and the women she shared it with were her second family. She and her friend Cathy Hanson also looked after the plants and regularly volunteered to help with the YMHA's holiday events and Folklorama. She joined the Stay Young Club and participated in all the outings and get togethers. As a family, vacations to Detroit Lakes and shopping trips to Grand Forks with the Cornthwaites were a regular occurrence. In the latter years of Dick's career they began to travel further afield. Flo was in her element experiencing new places and new cultures. They enjoyed trips to the US, Scotland, Spain, Hawaii, the East and West Coast of Canada, Churchill, MB, and cruising the Caribbean. After Dick's death she travelled for several winters with the Stay Young club to warm locales and new adventures. Coffee club friends travelled together closer to home. From her apartment in Lion's Manor on Sherbrook Street she continued in her 80s and mid 90s to walk daily to one of her favourite haunts like the Forks, or City Place or Portage Place and Polo Park. She would people watch and continue her search for a good bargain. Flo lived with integrity and will be remembered as a unique, interesting, fun person. She was an independent spirit, loyal friend, caring and generous mom. And mom, you took care of your daughter until the end. Special thanks to Lion's Manor recreation and administrative staff, home care and adult day program staff who supported her and helped make her time there the best it could be. The staff who cared and comforted her at Kildonan Personal Care Home, who shared a smile and a little joke and helped in her adjustment are greatly appreciated. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Manitoba Theatre Centre and Rainbow Stage brought her much pleasure. Donations can be made in her memory to those organizations, the Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba, Plan Canada (Foster Parents Plan), 1001 - 95 St. Clair Ave., W., PO Box 31004 STN. BRM. B, Toronto, ON M7Y 5M4, or to a charity of your choice. A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held at Kiwanis Chateau, 430 Webb Place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2011.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 12, 2011