Fleurette "Flo" Fontaine

1941 - 2011

Fleurette "Flo"

Fontaine

1941-2011

Fleurette "Flo" Fontaine, died Monday May 23, 2011 with her family by her side in Pensacola, Florida.

A funeral mass will be Thursday May 26, 2011 at 2 PM at St. Paul's Catholic Church on Hyde Park Road in Pensacola, FL. The family will receive friends from 1 PM until the service hour.

Flo was born in the Fall in Montreal, Canada to Edward and Pauline Barry. We know her as "Flo," "Mom F," "Mrs. Fontaine," "Mimi," and "Grandma." Her journey in this life has been brief but her immense love and countless contributions to and for her family, friends, community, and the occasional stranger brought fullness, vigor, and fearlessness to her life in way that made her shine above most people we know. Flo was simply a pillar of strength when no one else could be.

She worked for Veteran Affairs/Hospitals for 35 years, and her hard work and dedication to fighting for what was right and providing dignity to ailing veterans earned her respect among her peers. Her first retirement was in 1994 but she quickly got bored. She then worked as an office manager at Dr. Frank Brown's office until officially retiring in 2007.

Flo relished life. Retirement could not stop her. We could find her in the bingo halls any time of the day. She read volumes at a time. She volunteered to sew costumes at Washington High School, Pensacola Little Theatre and the University of West Florida. She loved "bling" and savored a good prime rib with a side salad dressed in blue cheese. Her favorite colors were pink and purple. She enjoyed Big Fish games. Puzzles did not stump her for long. Her laughter was contagious and filled rooms. Her energy got us to where we needed to go. Her persistence made things happen. Her generosity warmed us.

Most of all, Flo loved her family. She knew her husband, Herve, since she was eight, and they had been married for 46 years. She was the greatest cheerleader when it came to her son Christien's artwork and any of his endeavors. She showered her grandchildren Justice and Gabriel with so many gifts that space would sometimes become an issue. She taught her daughter-in-law Annabel what to look for in a good sewing machine. She took care of mother, Pauline. She is survived by her brothers Al and Gerry. We relied on her for much needed insight and wisdom and she is sorely missed.

Flo never got to open her Mother's Day card. Inside it had said, "May the sun warm your cheeks, and if it's raining, may the waters cool your toes." We miss her. We hope to meet her again, hearing her laugh and welcoming us in her warm embrace.

The surviving family would like to express their utmost gratitude to the wonderful care Flo received while at West Florida Hospital and Covenant Hospice of West Florida. The family wishes that contributions be made to Covenant Hospice, in lieu of flowers.

National Cremation & Burial Society of Milton has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits