Flora BROWN

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BROWN: Following a lifetime of unstinting love for her husband, family and friends, Flora Jean Brown passed in Virden District Hospital May 31, 2011. Flora was married to her best friend, Roy Brown, for 67 years. Flora (from Oakner) and Roy (from Lenore) met at a field day in Kenton, Manitoba at age 14. They married during wartime and started their family in Halifax with the birth of Bonnie Gae (Dave Carcary, Santa Monica, California). Joanne (Vern Kaisler, Chemainus, B.C.) was born during university days in Toronto, and Brenda (Brown, Calgary) during Roy's optometric internship in Winnipeg. Flora and Roy moved to Virden in 1949 to begin a practice in Optometry, where they gave birth to son Robert Brown (Virden) and daughter Shirley (the late Eric Reid, Calgary). In 1957 Flora and Roy moved their family just north of Virden to a large farm property where Flora exercised her passion for landscape beautification, flower and vegetable gardening, house plants, and bird watching. They lived an active social life within the Virden community, and entertained extensively both at "the farm" and also at their Oak Lake cottage for several decades. Flora had taught briefly at Kola following Normal School and became a self-taught life-long learner. Kind to her core, Flora was renowned for performing uncommon kindnesses with ease. She expanded her horizons far beyond her humble beginnings. Her intellectual curiosity, her fashion flare, her legendary menus, her exceptional gift of hospitality, were markers of how she stretched herself. Flora was athletic, enjoying curling, exercise classes, downhill and cross-country skiing, ballroom and round dancing. She was an active volunteer with the United Church Women and delved into Bible study. As an avid bridge and card player, Flora formed special bonds with her sons- and daughter-in-law. Travels interwoven through the years from coast-to-coast-to-coast in Canada, to world fairs, to England, Scotland, Wales, to South East Asia, to Holland, to cruising through the Panama Canal, and later in their "bus" were opportunities to diarize experiences and make or renew friendships. Grandchildren played a dominant role in Flora's life and were a particular delight to her. Her keen sense of each child's essence created magical memories for many of the grandkids: Christine and Scott Carcary (California); Heather and Kris Kaisler (BC and Saskatchewan); Jeffrey and Jeremy Nitschmann and Jasen Goebel (Alberta); Bart and Jordan Brown (Manitoba). One of her last Christmases at the farm, Flora set the dinner table with all the ornaments given to her by grandchildren over the years. Eight great-grandchildren Craig, Evan and Kyle Carcary; Brandon, Cameron and Dillon Card; Julia Kaisler and Suki Anna Brown continue Flora's legacy. The last few years of Flora's remarkable life were spent receiving care and kindness at the Westman Nursing Home in Virden. In gratitude, Flora's family wishes to say "Thank You" to the Westman staff. For those wishing, gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to the on-going development of the Westman Courtyard in recognition of Flora's love of the beautiful outdoors. Gifts may be made payable to: "Westman Courtyard Project", and sent to: Westman Nursing Home, 427 Frame Street East, Box 1630, Virden, Manitoba, R0M 2C0.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jun 10, 2011