April 4, 2019
The heavens have gained an angel. Florence Irene Thomas left this world April 4th at the age of 79 and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was one of the most genuinely loving, sensible, loyal, talented, and beautiful inside and out ladies to walk this earth. To have her as a friend was to be blessed, to have her as a parent was like winning the lottery.
Born in Rossland in 1939 to Robert and Hazel Thompson, they soon moved back to the family property in Cascade/Christina Lake where she grew up, eventually marrying Richard (Dick) Thomas at the age of sixteen and having three children by the time she turned twenty. They all lived on the Thompson property along with numerous dogs, cats, horses and endless visits from family and friends. It was a house full of love and laughter. She was a natural counsellor, countless family and friends would confide in her, she kept all these conversations confidential, she had integrity. She was talented - sewing, knitting, drawing, painting and pottery. She wasn't very good at telling jokes though, and not the best of housekeepers, I guess she wasn't quite perfect. But almost.
After the kids grew up and moved out she opened a store in Grand Forks - "Florence's Optical, Jewellery and Gifts". She continued making friends through this venture until she retired and passed the business to her son Edward. This business lasted approximately thirty-five years until the great flood of 2018 damaged it beyond recuperation.
Pre-deceased by her parents and three siblings, Joy, Della and Bud, and by her husband Dick, she is survived by her three children Edward, Martin (Marlene) and Julie (Glenn Jensen), four grandchildren Michel, Levi, Lindsay and Mathew, two step-grandchildren Devin and Jodi, brother Ken (Irma), sister-in-law Patricia (Bill) and too many to list cousins, nephews, nieces and those that weren't actually related but were considered family. A huge thank-you to the Silver Kettle for taking such good care of her. Services will be held at a future date.