Florence Mabel Lynch

Most of us live for ourselves. Florence lived to make us laugh.

Florence grew up in Vancouver in a very strict religious home, and as a young woman in Vancouver in the late fifties was considered “liberated” — she had a career, didn’t smoke, and enjoyed an active social life. Then she met Uncle Biff, and everything changed. They married on December 22, 1960, just three months after meeting. Auntie Flo quit drinking and, through Marguerite Miner, became a Bahá’í — a faith she held for 51 years. Her love for God transformed her life; it was no longer about Florence, but about serving others. She developed the qualities we all loved: generosity, kindness, hospitality, patience, faithfulness, a joyous attitude toward life, and a mischievous sense of humour.

In 1986, Florence and her husband Wilfred Lynch (d. September 2017) moved to Coldstream, where she threw herself into local service, the Lavington Ladies, the Gardening Club, and weekends “garage sale-ing.” She also served the region as a marriage commissioner, and rarely went out for lunch without being greeted by someone she’d married — sometimes more than once!

When Florence saw others, she only saw their qualities — never fault, flaw, or weakness. Her generosity was legendary; people would come for a weekend and stay for months, one young man for three years. Even later, as she suffered from dementia, she continued to radiate joy and share her daily funny anecdotes. That’s so much better than money and power.

“Neither doth My earth nor My heaven contain Me, but the heart of My faithful servant containeth Me.”

Her life truly reflected that Baha’i passage, as well as this one:

“Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbour, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face… Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed… Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive.”

Her true legacy is that she lived to see others happy and successful.

We love you so much, dear sweet Auntie Flo! Survived by nieces, nephews, and three more generations of the same, plus countless friends and her (unofficially) adopted daughters and sons, we thank her for all of her small and large acts of kindness, generosity of spirit, and all-encompassing love.

Thank you to the Bahá’í Communities of Coldstream and Vernon, to all her friends and “fans,” to the Gateby Program staff, and to every staff member at Noric House who enveloped her with warmth and truly loved her — with special thanks to Dr. Langer and Dr. Boucher, and to the District of Coldstream Infrastructure Office and Cypress Funeral Services.

In lieu of flowers:

Auntie Flo was a longtime supporter of Transition House in Vernon. If Baha’is felt moved,  they could contribute in her name to the construction of the Canadian Baha’i House of Worship (Temple Fund).  With thanks.

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-558-0866

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: