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Gardin, Flora age 87, passed away in the loving arms of her daughter at Poplar Ridge Pavilion after prolonged illness, on October 19, 2016. She immigrated to Canada in 1968, leaving from Venice Marco Polo airport at the age of 39, with her two teenaged children, her husband Pietro having preceded her by a few months. She made Trail, BC her home. It was fun to learn a new language and culture together. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and gardening. Flora worked at the Crown Point Hotel, the Terra Nova Hotel, the Union Hotel and lastly the Kootenay Hotel where she was the main cook for many years. Later she became a Support Worker to many seniors in the area until the age of 60 when she retired on the insistence of her husband to be by his side. Every day they went for a drive somewhere. She loved country music and was often driving to Northport, WA where she and Pietro had dinner and then danced the night away to live music.

Her great-grandchildren lit up her life with joy, she always had a freezer full of ice-cream when they visited, and always enjoyed to feed the crowd with gnocchi, pizza, homemade panettone, spaghetti and hot chocolate from scratch. The most important roles in her life were that of wife, mother, sister, Nonna and Bisnonna. Leaving her home for a care facility at the age of 86 and losing her independence was devastating and frightening to Flora. The last 6 years have brought her daughter and Flora very close as they surmounted many trials together.

Flora was predeceased by her husband Pietro, brother Ivo, sister Angelica, sons-in- law Francesco and Norman. She is survived by her daughter Emanuela Manning, son Antonio Gardin (Christine), grandchildren Alessandro, David, Melissa (Gilbert), Marissa (Matthew), and Leah, great-grandchildren Avery, Boyd, Noah, Isaak, Ammon, Theodore and Brynleigh.

Dear Mom, now all the worrying is behind you. You now know that there is life after death and this life on earth is but a small speck in time where we all came to learn, grow and increase in faith to prepare to meet God - the Giver of life. Now you have passed that portal that we call death, but in reality you are continuing toward further light and knowledge, for death was never spoken of the soul. Until we meet again mom, we’ll carry you in our hearts. You have just departed and yet we are longing to embrace you again. Many thanks to Dr. Hii for the care he provided to Flora for many years. To all the nurses and care aids at Poplar Ridge, thank you for lovingly and patiently caring for mom. In lieu of flowers, please spend time with your loved ones making sweet memories to last forever. You are invited to leave a personal

message of condolence at the family’s

online register at www.myalternatives.ca



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