FLORENCE FITZPATRICK, PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY JANUARY 15, 1998 AT VULCAN EXTENDICARE AT THE AGE OF 98 YEARS.
FLORENCE WAS BORN IN LONDON, ENGLAND DECEMBER 4, 1899. SHE CAME TO CANADA AT THE AGE OF FIVE YEARS, ATTENDED SCHOOL AT MONTREAL AND CHATHAM, ONTARIO. FLORENCE MOVED WITH HER FAMILY TO CALGARY. SHE ENTERED THE HOLY CROSS SCHOOL OF NURSING IN I914 AND GRADUATED AS A REGISTERED NURSE FROM THE HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL IN 1918, THE SECOND GRADUATING CLASS OF THE HOLY. FLORENCE WORKED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE IN LETHBRIDGE DURING THE 1918 FLU EPIDEMIC. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT SHE MET ARTHUR FITZPATRICK AND THEY WERE MARRIED IN 1920. ARTHUR AND FLORENCE FARMED AND RAISED THEIR FAMILY IN THE REID HILL DISTRICT. SHE MADE GOOD USE OF HER TRAINING BY CARING FOR HER NEIGHBOURS IN THE AREA WHEN THEY WERE ILL OR WELCOMING NEW BORN BABIES INTO THE WORLD.
FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, HER NEPHEW CHARLIE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE FARM FOR HER, SINCE HER CHILDREN DH) NOT LIVE IN THE AREA. THEY HAVE GREATLY APPRECIATED EVERYTHING THAT CHARLIE HAS DONE FOR THEIR MOTHER OVER THE YEARS. FLORENCE ONCE WROTE, “WHATEVER WOULD WE DO WITHOUT CHARLIE!”
A PIONEER IN THE REID HILL DISTRICT FLORENCE WAS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF REID HILL WOMEN’S INSTITUTE, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR, RED CROSS, ST. ALDHELM’S ANGLICAN CHURCH AND SHE SERVED AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE VULCAN CHAPTER OF THE ALBERTA ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED NURSES FORMED MAY I0, 1951.
FLORENCE WAS AN AVID BRIDGE PLAYER AND SPENT MANY HAPPY HOURS PLAYING CARDS WITH HER FRIENDS.
FLORENCE WAS PREDECEASED BY HER HUSBAND ARTHUR IN 1966. SHE IS SURVIVED BY TWO DAUGHTERS SIBYL (REAL) MENARD AND LORELIE (IAIN) YOUNGER, A SON ARTHUR (DOROTHY), EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN, TEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
FUNERAL SERVICE WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 1998 AT 1 P.M. AT ST. ALDHELM’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, VULCAN WITH REV. CANON ARTHUR WILCOX OFFICIATING. INTERMENT VULCAN CEMETERY.
CASKET BEARERS DICK MYERS, DOUG MCINTYRE, DAVID COLLIER, CHARLIE FITZPATRICK, BOB MENARD AND GLEN FITZPATRICK.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS DONATIONS IN FLORENCE’S MEMORY COULD BE MADE TO THE LADIES AUXILIARY AT EXTENDICARE, BOX 810 VULCAN, ALBERTA OR ST. ALDHELM’S ANGLICAN CHURCH.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME, TELEPHONE 485-2633.