Parcourez la nécrologie de Florence Lottie Smith April 13 1925
March 8 2025 résidant dans la province Ontario pour le détail des funérailles
Florence Lottie Smith Obituary
Smith, Florence
Passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Parkwood Mennonite Home, Waterloo in her 100th year. Dear wife of Harry Smith (1995). Beloved mother of Linda and Paul Snyder of Waterloo, Dawn and Keith Thornton of Elmira. Cherished grandmother of Nathan Snyder, Andrea Snyder (Brian Bauman); Michael (Andrea) Thornton, Brian Thornton (Erin Lusty). Sweet great-grandmother to eight bright descendants. Loving sister of Ruth Lippert of Woodstock and sister-in-law of Wally (Marty) Smith of Florida. Florence will be missed by her nephews and nieces and their families. In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place. A family service will be held in Brantford at a later date. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the staff education fund at Parkwood Mennonite Home would be appreciated and may be made through the Dreisinger Funeral Home. A special thank you to staff at Parkwood and especially those in the Weber Woods neighbourhood for their compassionate care.
Florence grew up on the family farm south of Tavistock with her siblings Dorothy, Maurice, and Ruth as playmates. She also grew strong being her father’s ‘farm hand’ until her younger brother was old enough to take on the tasks. She learned her mother’s skills too, in the kitchen and the garden, and in many of the fabric and needle-work arts. She was the first in the family to go on to secondary school. This meant she needed to spend her weekdays in Woodstock where she boarded with an older lady. She cooked for her and managed the coal furnace as well as other heavy chores.
Florence’s first job after secondary school was as a stenographer in Brantford. There she met her husband and together they raised their two daughters. She was actively involved in Faith Lutheran Church, organizing vacation church school, teaching Sunday school, quilting, and playing euchre. She also enjoyed sports, playing volleyball on the Brantford YWCA team, curling on a team with her husband and, after her husband passed away, enjoying lawn bowling and aquafit. Her last job before retirement was as a secretary at the local elementary school.
Travel was one of her pleasures. She and her husband enjoyed road trips in Ontario and the north-eastern USA, especially to enjoy the fall colours. She and her sister Ruth, went on outings to cities like Toronto for music and theatre, as well as on tours to such places as New York City. When Linda and her family spent an academic year in Mexico, Florence and a friend drove to Monterrey to spend a few weeks with them. She also enjoyed organized tours to Bermuda, Alaska, the British Isles, and Europe. Her trip in 2000 to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau and to visit several Eastern European countries was a highlight.
Florence was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She made the wedding cakes for each of her daughters, and quilts for her daughters and each of her grandchildren. Grandchildren were welcomed for summer holidays with trips to Marineland and time digging together in the flower gardens. She taught them several table games as well as UNO. One grandson boarded with her to attend college and she packed his lunches every day, which were the envy of his schoolmates. Her two youngest grandsons and her oldest great-grandson remember her cheering for them in their hockey games at the Gretzky Centre. Her great-granddaughter was happy to have Grandma Smith attend her dance performances at the Sanderson Centre. Florence also cherished the memory of one of her great-grandchildren being invited on stage at a Christmas extravaganza to lead the KW Symphony Orchestra in a piece. At her house the kids loved her mac ‘n’ cheese served with mandarin orange Jello. The strong connection carried over to the present. She enjoyed having her granddaughter ask her questions to write in a book ‘Tell me your life story, Grandma’. And only a few weeks before she died, she had a good, competitive game of three-handed euchre with her oldest grandson and his son. When Florence was asked recently what made her happiest, she said it was having her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit.
When mobility issues meant she needed to be in long term care, she moved to Parkwood Mennonite Home to be closer to her family in Waterloo Region. There she continued to watch curling competitions with avid interest and challenged family members and folks at Parkwood to card games. She also kept abreast of current events and was an informed world citizen even in her 100th year. She connected with staff and other Parkwood residents on a personal level and was always up-to-date on her family members’ activities. She will be deeply missed by all of us.
www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com
Donations:
To donate direct, please send cheques or donate online to the charity of your choice. Call us at the funeral home, 519-669-2207 and we will place a card to the family (as always, we still accept cash or cheque at the funeral home)
Parkwood Seniors Community – Staff Education Fund
726 New Hampshire St.,
Waterloo ON N2K 4M1
(519) 885-4810
parkwoodmh.com/donate/
April 13 1925
March 8 2025
Décès pour la Ville:Elmira, Province: Ontario
avis deces Florence Lottie Smith April 13 1925
March 8 2025
nécrologie Florence Lottie Smith April 13 1925
March 8 2025
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Florence Lottie Smith April 13 1925
March 8 2025 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.