Florence Margaret Smylie

Glace Bay\Winnipeg

It is with heartfelt sadness that we, the family, announce the sudden passing of Florence Margaret Smylie (O’Donnell) in her 86th year, on September 9, 2016 at her home.

She was born in Glace Bay, the eldest of seven children born to Robert and Margaret (MacLeod) O’Donnell. She is survived by her son David (Lila) Carson and two granddaughters, Odette (Mira and Cass NicBridhe) and Grace (Gordon) Carson and 5 great grandkids. As well as sisters, Catherine (Tiny) Burke, and Georgina MacInnis; and brother Allie O’Donnell and ex-husband Dave Carson in B.C., along with sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by husband, William Smylie, and 3 brothers.

As a fun-loving, hard-working, coal miner’s daughter, Flo knew how to have fun and loved music, dancing, and house parties in her youth. She had a great sense of humor and told some dandy “off-color” jokes. Flo was always a hard worker, stepping up to take care of her young brothers when her mom died young. She was an adventurous one too! She took a “Sea Cruise” across the Atlantic alone with her two year old when her husband got stationed in Germany in the 50’s. They returned and lived in Calgary. Later moving to Winnipeg, she began waitressing and cleaning up other peoples’ messes before many women even considered working outside the home. She continued to work in Ont., B.C., and Winnipeg until she retired at 65. She was a woman ahead of her times! By then, she had divorced and remarried and with Smylie, she could be seen driving around the city in his big Lincoln on their weekly outing to the pizza restaurant or the steak shop. She’d already been overseas and across Canada and eventually moved to PEI to be near her son and granddaughter. Finally, like all good Cape Bretoners, ending up “back home” with her family. We will all miss her for the joy and love she gave us.

Flo loved being “Nanny” and enjoyed her two granddaughters, taking Odette for sleep-overs and then on the bus downtown to get their haircuts and nails done or meeting at Grant Park Food Court. As a friend of Flo’s just mentioned to us, “she loved her “Hollywood Nails”. Grace said “she will always remember going for dinner at Zellers Restaurant. Also her taking me to Polo Park when I was 2 to get my ears pierced.”

Funeral service will be held Friday, September 16, 2016 at 3pm at Patten Funeral Home Chapel, 71 Union Street, Glace Bay. An internment of her cremated remains will be held later at a service in Winnipeg with her granddaughters and great grandkids and other family members on her husband’s side in attendance.

Donations in Florence’s name may be made to any charity of your choice.

On-line condolences can be sent to www.pattenfuneral.com