Florence (Flo) Isabel Jennie Eliza (Connelly) Wintemute

In loving memory of Florence (Flo) Isabel Jennie Eliza Wintemute (née Connelly), who passed away in Calgary on 31 December 2020 at the age of 95. Left to honour her memory are her children Carol (Doug), David and Robert, and her grandchildren Ian and Shannon. She is survived by her sisters, Margaret and Roberta, and her brother James (Liisa).  Flo was predeceased by her sisters Kathleen and Mary, by her brothers-in-law Rodney (Kathleen), George (Mary), Jack (Margaret) and Don (Roberta), and by her former husband Dr. Bob Wintemute. Flo will be missed by her numerous nieces and nephews. Born near Shawville, Québec on March 23, 1925, Flo grew up in the gold-mining town of South Porcupine in northern Ontario.  As part of the war effort, she spent the summer of 1943 working as a farmerette on the Hammonds’ farm near Waterford in southern Ontario. She then studied at St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Timmins, graduating in 1946. After working at hospitals in Ottawa (Civic), Toronto (St. Michael’s, St. Joseph’s, General), Saskatchewan (Imperial), Edmonton (University), Calgary (Holy Cross) and St. Louis (Deaconess), Flo became a full-time mother in Calgary in 1958.  After raising three children, she took a refresher course and returned to nursing at the operating room of the Colonel Belcher from 1977 until 1989, before retiring from the Holy Cross in 1990. Always thinking about how she could help others, Flo was active in her Anglican churches (Good Shepherd, St. Stephen’s) and her community (Wildwood).  She volunteered for charities, such as Meals on Wheels, the Clothing Bank and the Inter-Faith (fondly known as her “boutique”). She enjoyed her many mountain and city hikes with 5th Dimension, and her trips across North America and to East Asia, Australasia, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Europe.  She also enjoyed many trips to visit family, whom she held near and dear to her heart. Flo had a gift for maintaining close connections with many cherished friends. Spending time with her children and grandchildren was of the utmost importance to her as well.  She enjoyed leisure activities throughout her life, such as bridge, curling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, which she took up at 80. She also enjoyed needlepoint and bestowed her beautiful creations on her friends and family. She was a kind and compassionate woman, always ready to bring her baking to someone in need.  Florence had a great sense of humour:  she would joke after reading her Herald in the morning that she was pleased not to have seen her name in the Obituaries!  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. The family thanks the staff at Walden Heights for the dedicated and compassionate care provided to Florence. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Flo’s honour to her favourite charity, Calgary Meals on Wheels, or to a charity of your choice. 

A celebration of Flo’s life will be announced at a later date. 

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