Obituary of Florie Strasky

Florie Strasky’s Obituary

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Florie Strasky, of Dawson Creek, BC, on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the age of 84 from cancer.

Florie Strasky was born June 15, 1937, to George and Emily Brown. She was the youngest of six children. She was born at home on Moose Mountain, Elk Point, Alberta. When she was five years old the family moved to the Peace River Country by train. When they arrived in Dawson Creek, they were just starting to build the Alaska Highway. Her dad and brother Hector got homesteads side by side, in Arras/Progress. Florie and Jim the two youngest of the family, rode horseback across the river to Bessborough School. In the winter they went in a sleigh pulled by a team of horses.  Later on, the school was moved to the Progress corner which was too far to ride her bike or horseback in the winter, plus the new school, did not have a barn for horses, so Florie stayed with the Groners. She attended school until grade 8 as at that time that was as far as you could go. Florie wasn’t afraid of work. She waitressed for a while, then was invited to move to Vancouver to live with her sister Sadie and husband George Fitch. Florie worked at various jobs in Vancouver as her education was limited with only having grade 8. Florie decided to enroll into Pitman’s Business College. How hard could it be. However, they required a grade 10 as a minimum. She told a little white lie and said she did have grade 10. To pay for the course she changed typewriter ribbons, swept the floors, dusted, and cleaned the black board. The homework was hard, but her brother-in-law George helped her and encouraged her to keep on. She passed and got a job with the Canadian Fire Insurance Company and stayed there until she got Rheumatic Fever.

Florie got married but that didn’t work out, so she returned to Dawson Creek. With her new skills she found a job at Hodgkinson’s Insurance Brokers and Real Estate. During this time, she met a man who became Wade’s dad, but he did not stay to see his son grow up, however, this was his loss.  When Wade was 1 years old, she left Wade with Grandma Brown and went to cook for Frank Cooke at his hunting camp in a tent. After she returned home, she went to work for Gerry Mounce and Bob Lauder cooking at a sawmill.  This is where she met Sheldon’s dad, Jerry Caldwell who was working there.  Jerry was from Nova Scotia, he wanted to return home. This is where Sheldon was born. They lived there for awhile then decided to move back to Dawson Creek as it was hard to find work in Nova Scotia. Upon returning they went to work at Eric Keding’s sawmill. She cooked for the crew and Jerry worked in the mill.  When her and Jerry got a divorce, she went to work at the Co-op Cafeteria and working there she made friends with a lot of the staff and customers. She kept close contact with Stella Ness and Loretta Adrian. She raised her two boys alone for 10 years. She used to tell them “We may not have much money, but we have love and our health”. She met Victor Strasky in Taylor B.C. Victor was working for Kenver Equipment at the time, who was sending him to Memphis Tennessee for a seminar, and he asked her to go with him. She asked Loretta her supervisor if she could have the time off.  Loretta said she wasn’t running a love boat and wondered why she was going with someone she only knew for a short time. Florie told her “We’re going on our honeymoon first then were going to get married”. That is exactly what happened. 

Florie and Victor moved into Northern Lights Apartments in 1992 and in March of 1994 the manager, asked Florie to be the caretaker. Then in 1995 Victor and Florie took over managing the apartment building. Victor passed away on February 1, 2005.  Florie continued as manager until September 2009 but remained in the apartment up to the time of her passing. Florie loved attending Tai Chi, going to Curves, and attending the Senior luncheons. Florie’s family and friends were very important to her. The telephone became her lifeline and she loved to read.

Florie was predeceased by her father & Mother George & Emily Brown. Husband Victor Strasky. Brothers Hector Brown, George Brown, James Brown. Sisters Irene (Ross) Fitch and Sadie (George) Fitch. She leaves to mourn, her sons Wade (Gina) Bolton and Sheldon Caldwell. Grandsons Zach Bolton & Lyon Belfire Skye and grandsons Briggs, Linc and grand daughter Ever Caldwell.

Donations may be made in memory of Florie to the Sunrise Valley Mountainview Cemetery Assn. 5458 - 216 Rd, PRRD, V1G 0J2. Care of Carolyn Derfler. 

Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium