Florence Ellen Eytcheson

July 22, 1930~ June 16, 2024

Florence passed peacefully on June 16, 2024, at 93 years, one month shy of her 94^th birthday, in the Clearwater Centre, Rocky Mountain House. She moved to Alberta in July 2023 to be close to family. She was born in Laloche, Sask to Kenneth Norman McDonald and Blanche Pelagie Fontaine in 1930. Florence was the second youngest of five children.

Florence grew up in Buffalo Narrows where her family moved in the 1930s so the children could go to school. Her father Kenneth passed away when she was 7 years old. Her mother raised the children as a single parent, always providing a loving, disciplined home. It was a different era and a northern lifestyle and Florence, Norman, Alice, and Gertie lived happily in Buffalo Narrows with their mom, Mrs McDonald. Her sister Mabel often stayed with Auntie Flora. When she was seventeen, her mother saw her off in a floatplane to Sandy Bay, where she worked for two years in the hospital as a Public Health Nurse’s Assistant and Cook. She gladly sent her mom special treasures, fancy dishes, and a china cabinet. Florence moved to Prince Albert in 1955 where she worked at the Blue Chain Store in the Dry Goods Department.

She met Lloyd Eytcheson then and he informed her on their first date that he was going to marry her. She was impressed by him and once said he reminded her of Elvis! They married at the Sacred Heart Cathedral on February 2^nd, 1957. They had three children, Beverly in 1957, (9 mths 4 days after the honeymoon!) Ronald in 1958, and Susan in 1962. Mom kept a beautiful home, cooked wholesome and creative meals, sewed clothing for the children, and did beautiful embroidery linens etc. Florence supported and encouraged music, piano for Bev and violin for Ron. She was always connected to her Metis culture, with wild game, berries, fresh fish, beaded moccasins gifted from her northern family. The P.A. winter festival was an annually celebrated and attended event. Our family always had an annual vacation to Waskesiu, fishing or camping or to Buffalo to visit family. As the grandchildren came along, she loved their summers spent with Grandma.  She was creative, drawing, painting and using rocks, twigs, pinecones to create tiny sculptures.  She volunteered with the Sask. Mental Health Foundation, fundraising for 19 years, and worked at Sears in their marketing drives from time to time.

Florence loved going for drives with Lloyd, spotting wildlife, birds, elk, deer, picking berries, finding wildflowers, tiger lilies and spring crocuses. They enjoyed the beauty and bounty of nature and the changing seasons while having a cup of tea over the fire or a picnic in the woods. She enjoyed retirement years with dad traveling to visit family, chuckwagon races, or just eating out. They enjoyed a cruise together to Tahiti, a long-deserved honeymoon adventure and the first time out of Canada.

Due to health, Florence and Lloyd had to live apart from 2017 to 2020 in P.A. As they went through these challenges, their love and devotion to each other was strong. She loved to pray the rosary, Lloyd and Florence prayed each night before turning in, sometimes of necessity over the phone.

Florence is survived by her daughter Bev Weber; granddaughters Erica Weber, Amber Eytcheson, and Abbey Eytcheson; grandsons Justin Weber, Travis Weber, and Zach Oberg, great granddaughters Kyla Weber, Alyssa Weber-Defoor, Tienna McDonald, Ivy Digiovannantonio, Clara Eytcheson, Chloé Violette-Weber, and Léa Violette-Weber; great grandson Jesse Digiovannantonio; and great great grandson Xander Lukenbill-Weber

Florence is also survived by her brother-in-law Clair (Gertie) McLeod, nephew Shane (Kim) McLeod, nieces Tracy (Barry) Kozloski, Kim McLeod, and families. Nephew Kenny Larson of Buffalo Narrows and family; Late Leonard Larson’s children and families. Her niece and maid-of-honour Kathy Gallay of Vancouver, her brother-in-law Ted (Carole) Eytcheson of Prince Albert and many cousins, nephews, and nieces too numerous to mention.

Predeceased by her husband Lloyd Eytcheson in 2020, son Ronald Eytcheson in 2008, daughter Susan Eytcheson in 2020, her father Kenneth McDonald, her mother Blanche McDonald, sister Mabel and John Goertzen, niece Carla Goertzen. Sister Alice Larson, Olaf Larson, niece Deborah Larson and nephew Leonard Larson, her sister Gertrude McLeod, brother Norman McDonald, father-in-law Floyd Eytcheson; mother-in-law Kathleen (Harris) (Eytcheson) Sanderson; brothers-in-law Raymond Eytcheson and Johnny Urquhart; sisters-in-law Gwen Eytcheson, Edith Urquhart, Anita Eytcheson, Eileen (Wes) Traille, and Joyce Ruoho.

The family would like to thank all the care team at Clearwater Centre for their great care, respect and affection for Florence and support to the family as Florence journeyed to join Lloyd on Fathers Day. Also, gratitude to her long-term friends Marv Erickson, Bob Casgrain and Marlene Yungwirth of Prince Albert.

Cremation June 21, 2024, National Indigenous People’s Day. A celebration of life for Florence and Lloyd Eytcheson, will be held at St Michael’s Parish in Prince Albert in the fall. Internment at Prince Albert Memorial gardens. In lieu of other tributes, the family asks donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or The Alzheimer Society of Alberta & NWT Red Deer.

Condolences may be forwarded to www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.
Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements.

• Date : 2024-06-16
• Location : Rocky Mountain House, AB