Flo Murray

So my small friend  Flo Murray has taken her leave. Quietly and without notice.
I didn't know until the day of the memorial service. Even then. I understood it to be visitation and expected  I would have the opportunity to attend the final tribute. 
The news story of her passing  referred to the last quarter of her life. When she occupied herself with various voluntary projects with the same energy she had lived her life.
It was noted she had been married to James Murray, a town Councillor. 
It didn't note  he died before his time. leaving Flo to raise the children alone in a very different  age. .
A time when women were not expected to be  principal  family providers.When few opportunities presented. A woman's
ability was seldom acknowledged.
No pay equity then.  
No health care  available. Hospitals billed their patients.
Flo worked for the Children's Aid Society likely when it was still a voluntary organisation dependent on fund-raisng.
Probably a Mayor or County Councillor put her in the way of the job. Taking care of widows and children was not  much of a government obligation 
Raising  her own and carrying the  knowledge of abused and neglected children in the community would have been a heavy burden to carry  with no-one to share. 
I only knew Flo  after  her children were raised and she was long retired from employment. 
I knew her as a woman of strong opinions who didn't suffer fools gladly.
But she gave credit where credit was due. Nigel Keane was much appreciated for the support he gave the seniors for fund-raising  at the Farmers Market 
Flo  had much to give and gave it freely.
She  was more, far more ,than the intrepid volunteer featured in the newspaper tribute. 
Flo  would have said, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. 
In ninety-five years of living, she did it right.