Florence Winnifred Hartlin

Born in Wandsworth, NL, she was the daughter of Florence Winnifred (Paul) and Matthew Vigas Pitcher.

It is never easy sharing news of someone who has passed. Our lovely Winnie, Grammy, Mom, Aunt Winnie, passed away peacefully. Everybody loved her and she had an abundance of love to share with her wonderful family and friends. We have peace knowing she is finally at rest and we will miss her dearly.

Winnie left her cherished Newfoundland at the age of 17 to become a nurse in Nova Scotia. Her first job at a senior’s home in Halifax set the tone of her life. She was always happiest when she could offer help to friends, family or strangers.

When Winnie’s children were young, the phrase “stay at home mom” didn’t exist. It was usual for women to stay home with the children while their husbands worked. But even by the standards of the era, Winnie was an exceptional homemaker, wife and mother.

She cared deeply for her family and neighbors and played a very active role in her church volunteering for many years at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Ladies Guild, as a Sunday school teacher and a leader with Explorers and CGIT.

The other love of her life was handwork. Her mother taught her to knit at 7 years of age and she always had several projects on the go – she excelled at the older arts of embroidery, cross stitch, crochet and tatting, but was willing to try her hand at any needle work. In later years she knit innumerable baby bonnets for IWK newborns and sweaters for African orphans.

She was no slouch in the kitchen either. There was always a family contest to get your favourite slice of pie before the next guy – she made the best blueberry pie around. Winnie was a perfectionist who believed in “doing it right, or not doing it at all”.

Once the children were out of the house, Winnie and Harry, the love of her life for 70+ years, hit the road with the Winnebago. They loved going on little adventures to discover the road less traveled, finding a hidden waterfall was a delight, as was visiting all of the lighthouses on any route within the Atlantic Region. She navigated the back roads long before we had GPS.

Winnie is predeceased by her mother and father (Florence and Matthew Pitcher) brothers Joseph and Dan, sisters Edna, Ruth and Grace, children James and Matthew, daughter-in-law Karen and son-in-law Louis.

Besides her husband Harry, Winnie leaves behind her daughter Yvonne, sons Tony (Stacey) and Paul (Doreen) and daughter Judy, grandchildren Michael, Erin, Matthew, Skye, Breagh, Kara, Cassie and great-grandchildren, Josh, Brandon, Kayla, and Levi. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

The family would like to thank Dr. Cherie Collicott, the nurses, CCAs and sitters at Glasgow Hall for the wonderful care and compassion given to Winnie in her final days. To the sitters of Nightingale Nursing Agency, thank you for your care and kindness for Winnie. A special thank you goes to Gloria LeBlanc for her devotion and care to Winnie.

Cremation has been entrusted to A.L. Mattatall Funeral Home, Dartmouth, NS. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Diabetes Canada or a charity of your choice.