Florence’s Obituary
With great sadness, the family of the late Florence Pamela Starecki announce the passing of their beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother, at the Canora Gateway Lodge on April 1, 2020, at the age of 92 years.
Florence was born on May 31, 1927, to George and Constance (Gillott) Wragg in Bradfield, England. She received her education in Bradfield and worked at local area farms, doing household chores and caring for children. She then joined the British Armed Forces, and during this time, met a Canadian serviceman, Joseph Michael Starecki.
Florence and Joe were married on July 18, 1946 and celebrated 71 years of marriage before Joe’s passing in 2018. After being discharged from the army, Florence, along with her husband, left her home country for Canada. For a few years, they resided in Toronto, ON, where they welcomed their first two children. In 1949, they decided to return to Joe’s home province and settled on a farm near Rama, SK. They were blessed with seven more children; thus, Florence became a fulltime homemaker.
She worked alongside her husband farming the land, raising cattle, pigs and chickens. She planted a huge garden and preserved a lot of food to ensure there was an abundance to be had. As so many dishes were foreign to her in her new surroundings, Florence taught herself how to make things like perogies, cabbage rolls, etc.
In 1973, Florence and Joe left the farm and made their home in Canora, SK. Florence became a full-time babysitter for numerous years and after retiring from this, she kept busy maintaining her home, puttering around her vegetable and flower gardens, bird watching (she could identify every feathered friend that visited her feeder and if she couldn’t, she was adamant about looking it up in one of her bird books.) She was an awesome cook and could bake up a storm, always having goodies on hand for company. She looked forward to company in hopes that maybe it would mean a good game of cards was in the making, with her favourites being hand and foot canasta or cribbage.
To many, it seemed Florence’s house had a revolving door for family and friends. She looked forward to “radio bingo season” because it meant Saturday evening gatherings. She also enjoyed the hockey season and was often found in her favourite spot on the bleachers watching one of her grandchildren play.
Florence loved to reminisce and laugh about days gone by. She liked to quietly sing old time songs and rhymes, often not knowing her children and grandchildren were recording her. With her sharp mind, she excelled in crossword puzzles and was the “go to” for any history related questions. Her travels took her back home to England twice as well as throughout Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia to visit family.
In 2018, Florence became a resident of the Canora Gateway Lodge, but accepted every opportunity to return to her home when family was visiting. She adored her Lodge family and treated everyone as she would her own. She was an amazing person and will be sadly missed, but never forgotten, by all who knew and loved her.
Florence was predeceased by her parents, George and Constance Wragg; husband, Joseph; sons, Michael and Terrence; brother and sister-in-law, Bernard (Edna) Wragg; and her brother-in-law, Reg Brown.
She will be forever remembered by her children: Julie (Raymond) Korchinski of Canora, SK, Pamela (Michael) Wiwcharuk of Snow Lake, MB, Elizabeth (Larry) Chalupiak of Canora, SK, Robert (Dagny) Starecki of Calgary, AB, Angela (Blair) Morgan of Telkwa, BC, David Starecki of Canora, SK, and Sheryl (Brad) Toffan of Canora, SK; sister, Beryl Brown and brother, Maurice Wragg, both of England; 24 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren and 3 step great-great grandchildren; as well as her nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
In Florence’s honour, a Visitation will be held from 7:00-9:00 pm, Monday, April 6, 2020, with a Private Family Service on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, from the Chapel of Leson’s Funeral Home, with Shawna Leson, as Celebrant. Cremation will follow with a Public Celebration of Life Service and Committal to be announced at a later date. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Royal Canadian Legion – Branch #52, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Florence Starecki.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Florence Starecki 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Canora, Province: Saskatchewan