The family of Florence Blake sadly announce her passing on Monday September 23, 2024 at Glengarry Hospital, Victoria, BC.
Mom was born November 6, 1928 at home in the small town of Schreiber Ontario to Samuel and Bertha Fournier. Her family moved to Fort William in the early 1940s.
Mom spent her teenage years looking after many of her nieces and nephews. She worked at Kresges and Chapples in downtown Fort William in the early 1950’s. She made many friends and one of them - Marguerite Blake introduced her to our dad - Bill.
They married in 1954, built a home on Glendale Avenue in Neebing and had three children - Kathie, Bart and Lorrie. Once Lorrie started school, mom went back to work. She worked various customer services jobs at Kmart and Canadian Tire. She had little formal education but she was very smart and determined to learn. She knew everything about each department she worked in. She could tell you the tools and hardware you needed for your job, exactly how to paint your house and how to care for all the small animals and birds Kmart sold.
She was a life long learner and an excellent pianist, knitter, seamstress and creator of many many baby, kids and her own clothes, quilts and afghans which she shared with her family. She was a good cook, great baker and very organized. She could fix anything and everything around the house. She also won several “highest women’s score” trophies in her Canadian Tire Bowling league. There wasn’t much she couldn’t do.
Mom loved her family above all else - her husband, children, grandchildren, siblings and all her nieces and nephews. She could tell you every birthday of her family members including all of her nieces and nephews right up until her passing. She kept in touch regularly with many of her extended family via FaceTime.
She was happiest with her family in the outdoors - camping, boating, fishing, berry picking and at our camp at McLeish Lake. We spent most summer weekends camping - from Schreiber to Winnipeg. We camped across the country to BC in 1967 and to the east coast a few years later. We played cards, had many parties, bonfires and picnics as a family and with mom’s siblings and their families. We have many fond memories of all the laughs and goofiness the five of us had in the various tents, tent trailers, and campers that we owned.
Mom and dad were a great help when Kelly and Kevin came along. They were fun and youthful grandparents. Mom decided to retire when Kelly was born - she and I took those kids everywhere including a camping trip when Kevin was 6 weeks old. Mom and dad spent all of their free time with their grandkids. Playing, exploring and camping.
Dad became ill in his early 60’s. Mom dedicated 8 years to looking after him and attending to him daily when he was in long term care. She kept the staff on their toes and was a fierce advocate.
After dad’s passing in 1997 and her first set of grandchildren were teenagers, mom moved to Victoria in 2001. Her second set of grandchildren and the thought of no more snow and a warmer climate called her to the island. She provided much help to her youngest daughter and family and got to enjoy two grandchildren all over again.
Moving to Victoria opened up many miles of exploring and travelling. She met friends and walked miles everyday and couldn’t understand why everyone didn’t. It kept you healthy! She travelled across the province and the country until she was 90 years old. She achieved her dreams of travelling across the country on Via Rail and taking a cruise to Alaska.
Mom was a devoted Roman Catholic and found solace in reciting the rosary in good times and in bad. She was always praying for someone. She attended mass until her health prevented. She was very generous - always knitting hats and mitts for homeless shelters, sponsoring families thru various agencies and donating quilts and afghans to church bazaars. She was a CWL member at Holly Family Church in Thunder Bay and St. Patrick’s Church in Victoria, BC.
Mom was tough and sassy. She had a strong sense of right from wrong and she would certainly share her opinion. She stood her ground when needed and this helped her over the last five years of declining health in and out of various health care facilities.
Mom passed away with grace and peacefully with her daughters and granddaughter, Kelly by her side.
She is survived by her sister Cecile Portelance, sister-in-law Angela Fournier, her children and grandchildren- Kathie Blake, grandchildren- Kelly Martin (Jason), Kevin Hanna (Holly Siczkar), her son Barton (Stephanie) and daughter Lorrie Van Somer (Wayne), grandchildren - Brianna and Brandon. Surviving also are nieces and nephews of the Blake family.
She was predeceased by her husband William Arthur, her siblings- Leona Lazaruk, Clarence Fournier and his wife Jeanette, Melvina McCarthy and her husband Ray, Raymond Fournier and Cecile’s husband, Leonard Portelance. All of Dads siblings and spouses predecease mom as well as several Fournier and Blake nieces and nephews.
Mom has been cared for in Victoria for the past 22 years by her youngest daughter, Lorrie. They had a very close relationship. We are very grateful for everything she’s done for mom. It’s been a long hard journey at times and we truly appreciate Lorrie’s dedication.
Our thanks to the staff of Glengarry Hospital and the many health care workers that were so good to Florence during her stay in several facilities over the past five years.
Cremation has taken place and a funeral will be held Saturday October 26th at 11:00 am at St Agnes Church, Brown Street, Thunder Bay with Father James presiding. A private internment at Mountainview Cemetery to take place at a later date.
Donations in mom’s memory to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Kidney Foundation or charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
