September 13, 1941 – June 5, 2022
Florence was born September 13, 1941 on the farm in Pelly, SK and peacefully passed away in her sleep at Regina General Hospital on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Survived by her son, Chris (Linda); grandsons Jon and Justin, and her daughter Susan (Brian), and their sons Richard and Matthew; siblings Phil, Sandy and Kirby, cousin Louella, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her mother Emma; father James David Johnson; sister Judith, and niece Joy. Florence loved all things to do with butterflies, listening to music, reading, or playing cards. She enjoyed gardening when she was younger and able. She was always eager to help and take care of anyone in need. Florence believed in angels, which was only reinforced by her dear friend Melinda who helped her to get groceries, take her to appointments, and play the card game “War” with her. Flo called Melinda her own private angel. Florence rests now with our Lord Jesus Christ in whom she dearly loved all her life.
Eulogy by Chris Smythe:
Florence Pearl Smythe, Flo, Fluffy or Fluff: Some of the names she went by. Back then women did not have the authority to name the children. Whatever the father registered the name as is what the child was called. So her dad, after a wee bit of celebrating, named her after two women he had loved - her Aunt Florence and his mother Pearl. A bit scandalous really.
She grew up very poor on the farm outside of Pelly, Saskatchewan. So poor, that when she got herself pregnant at age 18, her mother forced her to give up the baby for adoption as they could not afford another mouth to feed. She never got the chance to hold her baby or say goodbye as they whisked the child away immediately. She said she thought of that baby every day for the rest of her life. I think this broke her and yet created in her a fury to stand up for herself from then on. Because when history repeated itself 5 years later, and this time with the support of her dad, she kept the next baby. That was me. She called me her “little sunshine.” Who ya calling “little” mom?
As a young adult, I was shocked when she told me about having a child nearly 5 years before me. I grew up thinking I was an only child. She said I had a sister. It was the only time I saw her cry. I’m so glad she was able to find Susan and reconnect after so many years.
Her mother late in life asked her once if she hated her for that. My mom said she didn’t “do that word.” Forgiveness, something we all could learn to do more often.
She had measles as a child and lost most of her hearing. It would be years before she got her hearing aid. Her inability to hear led to her being bullied and socially outcast in school. She said she had no good memories of being in school. Again, sad, but it formed a fierce independence in her to walk her life on her terms. When she got an idea in her head, she could not be swayed from it by any kind of peer pressure.
I remember her getting married when I was 7. This year would have been their 50 year anniversary. Sadly, he passed away in 2008 before they had a chance to do the things they planned to do in retirement. His kidney failure and subsequent strokes, ravaged his body for 15 years.
First she looked after me, then she looked after her husband Wayne, then looked after her mother. I told her once that I thought she was more like Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. She liked that comparison. She even worked at the Regina General Hospital alongside her mother and soon to be sister in law, Beatrice (Aunt Bea who went on to marry Mom’s brother Phil). It was fitting that God sent an angel to take care of her in her final years. Thank you Melinda.
Someone told her once that she had a “gift” of telling people off. So she did, when she thought it was “necessary.” Now this trait was both good and bad. Bad in that it could damage relationships. Some of you may have been on the receiving end of a rant or two. But there are times when it was good. When I was in grade six, I was assaulted by a teacher who mistakenly thought I was the one talking in line waiting to go into the school after recess. He grabbed me by the throat, lifted me off the ground pinning me to the wall of the school while raging at me with his face right in mine. When I got home, my mom asked me where I got those bruises on my neck. I told her. Well, she jumped up and toodled over to the school and let them have it. I was wasn’t there to see it, but the next day, that teacher was no longer a teacher. I was safe.
Another time, her husband, Wayne was sick and needed attention from the medical system. It wasn’t happening fast enough for her, so she toodled off again and went right to the top. She walked into the minister of health’s office and gave him what for. Again, I have no idea what she said, but Wayne got what he needed the next day I think.
Did you know she was banned from Facebook for a month? Yeah, last month she posted on Facebook that “Bombs should rain down on Putin.” Her account is still frozen to this day. My mom the terrorist.
The good and the bad are often the same trait.
I think that’s what made me able to accept her rantings as I knew she was always on my side and if needed, was a formidable ally.
She was never too old to learn. I got her a computer and set it up so she could automatically connect to my computer at work via Skype and do a video call. She would often have to wait until I was done with customers so she would leave the computer on and I could see her napping in her chair across the room. We would have a quick chat 2 or three times a day. Sometimes she would watch the news at the same time and let me know what was going on in the world. I think I was just another TV channel for her to watch. Reality show: ChrisTV.
She loved to sing. But she was tone deaf. I couldn’t stand it. She hated when I whistled loudly in the house. So we had a “noise-off” one day. She sang as loud as she could, and I whistled as loud as I could. I nearly passed out blowing into my fingers. I don’t think there was a winner as I got light headed and had to stop. And she kept on singing. When I was a moody teenager she would always finish off an argument with me with an “I love you.” No comeback for that one. And those words would never leave me. I always knew I was loved.
She would write down the lyrics of songs she liked. Like this one:
Don’t grieve for me now I’m free.
I’m following the path that God has laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard his call.
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Task left undone must stay that way.
I found the peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
O yes these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life has been full, I savoured much
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief.
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee.
God wanted me now, He set me free.
(end of eulogy)
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leefunerals.com for the Smythe family.
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