February 8, 1927 - December 15, 2020
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and baba, Florence Eremko. Mom passed peacefully in the early morning hours of December 15 at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital.
She was predeceased by her husband William in 2004, her son Billy in 1994 and her sister Ann in 1939. She is survived by her daughter Angela (Mark) Freberg, grandchildren Alena (Paul) Villeneuve and Scott (Kat Porter) Freberg, great-granddaughter Harlow Villeneuve and siblings Joe (Pauline) Swetlishoff and Mary (John) Forrest and their families.
Florence, the daughter of Joseph and Molly (Maloff) Swetlishoff, was born in Thrums on February 8, 1927 and grew up on the family farm.
On May 23, 1948 she married William (Bill) Eremko in Grand Forks BC and they settled there and welcomed their son Billy in 1949. In 1950, they moved back to Thrums, with daughter Angela completing the family in 1955 and where they resided until 1999.
Mom loved the community and took great pride in her home, yard and gardens. The proverbial green thumb, her flowerbeds and gardens were always immaculate and provided an abundance of fruit and vegetables that she took great pleasure pickling, preserving and sharing with family and friends.
She was a wonderful cook and baker and loved nothing better than trying new recipes and feeding family and guests. Mom also did beautiful embroidery and enjoyed crocheting. Unknown to her, her daughter entered some of her pickles and preserves in the PNE competition in Vancouver in 1990 and she took prizes in all three categories including a first for her Hungarian pickles. Her son Bill, fondly dubbed her the "Thrums Pickle Queen".
In 1999, after her husband Bill's stroke, Mom downsized and moved to Sandalwood Court in Castlegar. She settled into her new home and enjoyed meeting new friends and neighbours as well as participating in the Seniors Whist Card Group at the Rec Centre. This past January (2020), Mom made the move to Castlewood Village.
Along with her gardening and homemaking, Mom enjoyed music, gameshows on TV, playing cards, doing word searches, chocolate, maple walnut ice cream and was an avid reader.
Time spent with family, immediate and extended, were her most cherished moments. . Florence was a kind, caring and generous lady with a quiet presence and sense of humor. We will always be grateful for her love, support, guidance and words of wisdom
The family would like to thank the staff at KBRH for the excellent care Mom received during her multiple stays over the last 4 years. We would especially like to acknowledge Dr. J. Fisher and Dr. A. Baxter (mom's family physicians) for their compassionate and dedicated care. Many thanks to the staff at Castlewood Village and the many home support and community health professionals (nurses, physios, and OTs) who supported and enhanced the quality of mom's day to day routine. We appreciate the support of family and friends who have phoned and sent messages, prayers and cards and shared wonderful stories, memories and food.
A private family viewing was held at the Castlegar Funeral Chapel on December 21 and a celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
As an expression of sympathy, a donation to the KBRH Health Foundation or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon would be appreciated by the family.