Florena Catherine Brown, aged 73 years, passed away suddenly at TBRHSC after a lengthy illness on Monday, January 7, 2019.
Florena was born in Pic Mobert, ON and was a long-time resident of Thunder Bay. She grew up on the Pic Mobert First Nation and especially loved being out on the land with her parents and grandparents. Trapping, hunting, boating on White Lake, and blueberry picking were some of her fondest memories. Florena was a dedicated and avid member of the Roman Catholic Church. She often participated in church fundraisers, attended Prayer Days, and was one of the foundational members of the the Jesuit Urban Indian Mission at St. Andrew's Parish that later evolved into St. Kateri Church. In her Elder years, she greatly enjoyed participating in the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre's (TBIFC) Lifelong Care Program and was grateful for the friendships, opportunities, and services that this program provided.
Throughout her life, she expressed her creativity and found a livelihood through her beadwork, sewing, and quilting. Florena was always a stylish dresser and could often be seen wearing her signature colour pink. She owned an extensive teddy bear collection and was a Yoville billionaire with multiple landholdings. Florena is fondly remembered for her baked goods like her famous raisin pies and zhoominan n'poodin (Clouti dumpling). She was most happy when surrounded by her family and friends. Florena loved her family very much and when grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, she cherished them all.
Florena leaves behind a large extended family including her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and numerous cousins.
Funeral services for the late Florena Brown will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church, 292 Red River Road in Thunder Bay. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 6:00 pm followed by prayers at 7:00 pm at Sargent & Sons Funeral Home at 21 North Court Street. Interment will take place at St. John Francis Regis Cemetary in Mobert at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the TBIFC's Lifelong Care Program or Kateri's Companions in Ministry at Kateri House, Prince Albert, SK. Condolences may be made online at www.sargentandson.com.
