Dr. Florence Ann Tarrant, RN MBA PhD

Our beloved sister, aunt, and cousin, Florence Tarrant, of Halifax, NS, passed peacefully away at the Halifax Infirmary on August 27, 2023 after a brief but relentless illness. She is survived by her sisters Marie Tarrant (Harling Park) and Donna Tarrant, nephews Cole and Hugh Park, special cousins Elizabeth Ford (Albert), Stephanie Hughes (Walter), and Sean Ford, lifelong friend Myra (Dick) Kelly (nee Turpin), and a large number of relatives, close friends, and colleagues. She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Dora (nee Fitzpatrick) Tarrant.

Florence was born in St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, on August 13, 1962. She graduated with her registered nurse diploma from St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in St. John’s, NL, and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland, a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University, a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Capella University. As a 20-year-old new graduate, Florence began her nursing career as an outpost nurse in various remote Indigenous communities across Northern Ontario and Nunavut. This work instilled in her a passion for Indigenous Health and self-governance of health programs in northern and remote regions. She lived for a long time in Sioux Lookout, Ontario and still has many dear friends and former colleagues there. In recent years, Florence was a faculty member in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University.

Florence was known for her sunny disposition, her willingness to help others, her generosity, and her love of travel. Florence travelled the world with family and friends and her guide through life was the book 50 Places to See Before You Die. When not travelling the world, Florence enjoyed entertaining and hosting dinner parties, watching a good game of curling, and stitching with her local cross stitch group. Florence was a force to be reckoned with and from the get go forged an independent path and although her time with us was shorter than we hoped, she had many lifetimes of adventures. She also never forgot where she came from and maintained close ties to her hometown of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and always stayed in contact with all of her extended family and friends.

No funeral will be held but a celebration of life will be held at a later date and time to be announced. The family plans to establish a scholarship program in Florence’s memory (details to follow) and asks that donations to be made to this fund instead of flowers or other gifts.