Florence Worobey

Florence (Flo) was born the first child to Matilda (Dekteroff) and Paul Shakotko on March 25, 1921 in Biggar, Saskatchewan in their union of a blended family. As a newborn, she was welcomed to her mother's prairie homestead at Lizard Lake, Saskatchewan, by her thirteen half-siblings and later joined by three younger siblings to make seventeen children in a home of "yours, mine and ours".

At her passing she was Mother, Sister, Mother-in-law, Grandmother, Great Grandmother (GG), Auntie, TuTu and Friend to a large and close-knit family and extended family.

Her life-song was "Just Give Me Jesus". As her Dad and his three brothers immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine they acquired a Bible in their own language and read of the God that they longed to know about. Immediately, Paul and his brother Ivan began to read and teach of the newfound faith as they made their way from the east coast of Canada to mid Saskatchewan. Along the way several churches were begun including Lizard Lake Baptist church. This church became the centre of Flo's social, musical, and spiritual growth. When she was a teenager she was impressed that she could not be "born into God's family" because of her Mom and Dad's faith, accomplishments and good deeds. She came to understand that as an act of her 'strong will' she could have her sins forgiven, the Holy Spirit of God living in her guiding her understanding and softening her will, and come into a heritage of 'everlasting life' as a child of God. Everyone who knew her has been impressed by this strong and on-going belief.

When asked what she liked to do the most she answered quickly, her brown eyes sparkling, "Sewing". This was a life passion to use machine, needle and thread to create beautiful and stylish garments. As apprentice to a tailor in Saskatoon, she learned to drape material, make patterns to fit an individual, and design clothing for body types. Even though she did this for a living for many years, she would get lost in the love of the creation she was constructing.

On November 11, 1942, Flo married Nick Worobey, a young farmer that she met at church choir practice. They became parents to Gary (1946), Warren (1947), Cheryl (1953) and Reginald (1957). Like many young couples during those years, life was not always easy. She was a courageous and resourceful life-long-learner who improvised and adapted to raise the quality of life for herself and her family. In 1968 she made Banff her home. Her kindness and hospitality reached many in this community and visitors to Banff. In later years, she learned to let go of exhaustion and productivity and began to enjoy travel, laughter, and the culture of others

Her body has been interred at Mountain View Cemetery,

Banff, Alberta

As a family, Warren and Cheryl (children), Clara (sister), Kevin,

David, Amanda, and Jordan (grandchildren) and their spouses

along with Nicholas, Kiana, Olivia, Connor, Liam and Adam

(great-grandchildren), welcomed everyone to a Celebration of Flo's Life on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at the Banff Park Church.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.