Florence Estella Hutchinson, age 86, of West Palm Beach, Florida passed away suddenly and peacefully in the presence of the Lord on Monday, October 19, 2020. Florence was born on April 15, 1934 in Lampson, Clarendon, Jamaica to David and Alice (McKenzie) West. The second of eleven children, she was affectionally known as “Stella” in her close-knit family and rural community.
Florence attended her community schools and excelled academically. She passed the Third Jamaica Local Examination held in July 1954. After she graduated from a teacher’s college, she started her professional career as a teacher.
At a young age of 23, she became the first member of the West family to migrate to England in July 1957. For three weeks, she sailed to England with 4-year old Mauva (Williams) Reid. Upon their arrival, Mauva rejoined her parents and Florence reconnected with the love of her life, Stanley Lopez Hutchinson, who relocated to England in 1956.
On August 2, 1958, they were married at St. Luke’s Church (Anglican) and settled in Balham, South West London. She went on to pursue a nursing career and on March 30, 1961, she earned her certification as a Registered Nurse (RN) from the General Council of England and Wales. In England, she worked in General Nursing, Psychiatry, and Midwifery and was promoted to ward matron.
In 1963, her daughter, Sonia, was born. Dedicated to her families’ well-being and their education, she welcomed her stepson, Clive, and her younger siblings into her home, after her parents passed away.
In March 1970, she become a registered general nurse and in June 1971, she became a certified Mid-Wife. After 16 years in England, Florence returned to her homeland in 1973. She was employed by the Jamaican Health Services and worked at the May Pen Health Center as the Head Nurse.
Always in search for the next opportunity, Florence decided to pursue nursing in the United States. In her new country, she earned her High School Equivalent Diploma on June 8, 1976, gained her registered nurse certification from the State of New Jersey (March 16, 1977), her licensed practical nurse certification (March 21, 1977) and another registered nurse certification (May 30, 1977) from the Florida State Board of Nursing. She was a cardiac RN at the Miami Heart Institute (renamed to Mount Sinai Medical Center) in Miami Beach, FL. A constant learner, she earned her Bachelor of Health Services Administration degree from the School of Public Affairs and Services, Florida International University on August 14, 1987 (at the age of 53).
On May 17, 1987, Florence lost her devoted husband to Leukemia. They were married for 29 years. In 1992, she moved from Miami to West Palm Beach to work at Wellington Regional Medical Center.
She retired as a full-time nurse in 1999. She spent several years travelling to Washington, D.C. to help raise her grandchildren and visiting relatives in England and Jamaica. On January 27, 2004, Florence lost her first grandchild, Anwar. It was a tragic loss to the family; he was only 4 years old. Truly dedicated to her profession and in the loving care of others, she continued to work part-time as a hospice nurse as long as she could.
Florence was a member of Berean Baptist Church (now called Grace Fellowship Church) in West Palm Beach, FL and attended Riverside Baptist Church during her visits to Washington, D.C. She loved listening to gospel music and participating in bible study classes. She loved her God and believed in His power and love.
Florence is survived by her daughter, Sonia Trask-Holmcrans and her husband Robert Holmcrans of Washington, D.C.; daughter-in-law, Nadine Hutchinson of Washington, D.C.; her cherished grandchildren, Sahara and Ezra F. Trask, Chloe Hutchinson, and step grandchildren, Mary Holmcrans, Katherine Holmcrans, and Dylan Holmcrans of Silver Spring, MD; siblings, Herman West, Keith West, Cecil West and his partner, Nurleen Williams (England); Ena West (Jamaica); David West and sister-in-law, Veronica West of Port St. Lucie, FL; and many nieces, nephews, and their spouses from the West, McKenzie, Hutchinson, Grose, and Williams families.
The memorial service is at 12:00 noon on Saturday, November 21 at Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home in Washington, D.C. Attendance can be in-person or via live stream. Interment will be at the Vista Memorial Gardens, Miami Lakes, FL and Croft’s Hill, Jamaica in the Spring of 2021. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Florence Estella Hutchinson’s name be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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