It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, Florence Zakordonski who passed away peacefully at Columbia View Lodge in Trail.
Florence was born in Glade, BC to Mike and Lena Stoochnoff and was the youngest of four children. At the age of 15, Florence worked at the McDonald Jam Factory where she bottled pop and the 4X bakery in Nelson. At age 17, Florence started working at her uncle’s laundry mat, which was located at the Reno Motel, in Salmo. It was there that she met her husband, Basil and shortly after they bought the motel and they began sharing 65 wonderful years together.
Florence was well known for her cooking, especially her Borscht, which was a favorite for all that had the pleasure of tasting it. She worked in many restaurants in Salmo and worked at the Sheep Creek Mine as a short order cook. Florence was a loving, soft-spoken, compassionate person and often stated “I love everyone” and this is what led her to her career with the Nelson Home Support from 1992-1999 when she retired.
Florence travelled to California, Hawaii and across Canada and in her early days enjoyed curling, square dancing, golfing, playing music and bingo.
Later in life she became a member of the Old Time Fiddlers and The West Kootenay Blue Grass Society where she and Basil would spend many hours entertaining people at countless events in many locations as well as senior homes throughout the Kootenays.
Florence is survived by her four children; Shirley (John) Hudec, David (Theresa), Dwayne (Dena) and Sandi (Tom) Oorthuis, her grandchildren; David Jr, Celena (Shane), Raycene (Tyler) , Kaylee, Kyle, Brittany (Charles), Sherri, Darcy, Mantis and her great-grandchildren; Keegan, Madison, Shyanne, Lily, Bethany, Ruthie and Paityn, great-great-grandson Jackson and a new great-grandchild on its way.
She was predeceased by her husband, Basil, her parents Mike and Lena Stoochnoff, brothers Mike and John and her baby sister, Nelly. She was also predeceased by her grandsons Shaun and Joshua.
Our family would like to express our appreciation to Tricia Doyle who always made mom smile and her eyes would light up when they were together, the recreation staff at Columbia View Lodge, the volunteer dance group, who came to Columbia View every Wednesday night to dance with our mom, and especially the nurses and care aids in the 200 wing who took fabulous care of our mother and treated her with love, respect and dignity until she took her last breath.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, April 13 from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm at the Salmo Valley Community Centre at 206 7th Street in Salmo. Al Grywacheski of Alternative Funeral and Cremation Services™ has been entrusted with arrangements.
As an expression of sympathy, donations can be made to the Recreation Program at Columbia View Lodge c/o the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Health Foundation, 1200 Hospital Bench Road, Trail, BC, V1R 4M1 or online at www.kbrhhealthfoundation.ca
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Florence Zakordonski March 7th 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Trail, Province: Colombie britanique