Florence Helen (Hare) Gwinn

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Florence Helen Gwinn, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

Born in North Sydney on April 23, 1935, Florence was the daughter of the late Stanley and Nellie (Osmond) Hare, along with her second mother, Patricia O’Neil Hare. She is survived by her children Dale Rose, Tina LeMoine (Fred), Kathy Hayden, Lorrie Hayden, James Hayden, Wendell Hayden, Kim, Margie, Amy.  Florence was a proud grandmother to Wendy (Robert) Lewis, Bonnie (Jeff) Cox, Trevor Rose (Haley MacEachern), Ronnie (Ruth Ann) LeMoine, Lisa  (Curtis) Bond, Adam (Kayla) LeMoine, Denise (Joey) Power, Patsie Woodfine (Jason Whitty), Bobby Hayden (Janice Hoffman), Austin Hayden and Jacob Hayden.  Florence also leaves behind 26 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by brothers and sisters Wynn (Glen) Stroud, Patty Olsen, Alfreda (Winston) Brown, Charlene (Charles) McCulloch, John Hare, Reg (Sandy) Hare, Dennis (Gale) Hare, Rob (Lorraine) Hare, along with countless nieces and nephews.

 Besides her parents, Florence was predeceased by her first husband, Courtney Hayden, her second husband Fred Gwinn, her son Bobby Hayden, granddaughter Laura Lee LeMoine, her sister Shirley Foote, her brother Stan Hare, and her son-in-law Brian Strickland.

Florence was a dedicated member of St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in North Sydney, where she was a member of the Mother’s Union, the “Doolahs,” and the church choir. She was well known for her outrageous sense of humour, epitomized by her cheeky Christmas character, Flossie the Elf, that kept people all over the world laughing for the last ten years.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the entire staff of the MacGillivray Guest Home for the truly wonderful care they provided Florence over the last number of weeks.

Visitation for Florence will be held from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm, Friday, June 7, 2024 at W.J. Dooley Funeral Home at 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A funeral service will take place at 10 am on Saturday, June 8, at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in North Sydney with Rev. Debbie Fice officiating. Burial will follow at a later date. Donations are encouraged to be made to MacGillivray Guest Home or St. John the Baptist Anglican Church. Online condolences can be left for the family by writing on the tribute wall of the obituary page at www.wjdooley.com.  

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