Florence Susan Anderson (nee Sherrard)
August 5, 1944 – October 2, 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Florence Susan Anderson (nee Sherrard), peacefully while she slept at her home in Minnitaki at the age of 77 on the evening of Oct 1st, 2021. She will be forever remembered and missed by her sons Brian (Jen), Brad (Mireille), Martin (Janet), and grandchildren Michael, Wade, Kori, Tyler, Linnea, Isla and Clare. Also in mourning are her brothers Tom and Byron (Christine), brother-in-law Harvey, sister-in-laws Kathie and Karen (Richard), and numerous nieces, nephews and both newer and long-time friends. Florence was predeceased by her beloved husband Roy, brothers Clare and Edward (Kathie), and parents Archie and Edna Sherrard (nee Clarke).
Florence was born and raised in Dryden before graduating and marrying Roy Anderson in 1965 and moving into Roy’s ancestral home in Minnitaki. The young couple went on several motorcycle trips out west before quitting their jobs – Florence worked in a lawyer’s office – and heading out West for work before returning home two years later with their first son. When two more sons arrived over the next few years they felt the need to build a larger home next door in 1974. Thus began the farming years as Florence’s parents moved into the vacated ancestral home and started farming which required younger farmhands including Florence (not a fan of milking cows or cleaning chickens). She was also involved in volunteering with the Minnitaki Women’s Institute for events like walkathons, and contributed to the family income by selling pinecones picked with friends and cleaned with her sons.
Florence and Roy travelled to Alaska and Newfoundland and everywhere in between with their sons, camping the entire way, once not deciding which coast to visit until they reached the end of the laneway. Florence never travelled after Roy passed in 2019 because “it wasn’t the same without Roy”. The years were also filled with weekend and even after-work fishing, boating, canoeing, dirt bike, hunting, snowmobile and ski trips including moonlight skis down the hydro-line to visit friends. Florence was a dedicated and loving wife and mother who spoiled her husband, sons and guests with sometimes excessive meals and baking, including foil-wrapped burgers when picking them up from hockey/judo and all manner of music lessons. She was well known for her wonderful personality, infectious laugh and sense of humour, so there was no such thing as a short trip to the grocery store.
A private family service will be held at a later date but if friends so desire, donations may be made to CHAMP (Child Amputee Program) through the Stevens Funeral Homes at PO Box 412, Dryden, ON P8N 2Z1. We would like to give special thanks to Carolle Eady, Marci Anderson, Drew and Shannon Myers, Christel, Fritz and Emil Kamm, and employees at the Royal Bank and Vermilion Bay Co-op, all of whom Florence mentioned often for their kindness and helpfulness during her waning years. These people and other family and friends not mentioned also raised her spirits with conversation and laughter such that her final time on earth was happy.
