Florence Svec, 80

Florence Ann Svec, 80, Lowry, died Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at Knute Nelson Nursing Home in Alexandria.

Florence was born March 15, 1929 to Louis and Mary (Brosh) Chan Sr., at home in Lake Mary Township, Douglas County. She grew up on the family farm by Lake Mary and attended District #14 Sunny Slope Country School through the 8th grade. She was a lifelong member of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church.

On July 27, 1948 she married Walter F. Svec at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church. They were the first couple to celebrate their wedding in the newly rebuilt church. They made their home on the farm Walter inherited from his grandparents, located north of Lowry. Their marriage was blessed with four children, RoseMary, David, RuthAnn and Andrew. Florence Ann was a typical farm wife, helping Walter farm and caring for her family. In 2000, when Walter was no longer able to farm, the couple moved to Lowry to make their home. Walter died in 2006.

Florence Ann belonged to the Ladies Guild at St. John Nepomuk Church, the Lowry American Legion Auxiliary, Alexandria VFW Auxiliary and the Lowry Senior Citizens group. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting baptism afghans and stocking caps, going to garage sales, bingo and lottery scratch offs.

Florence Ann had a love for sewing and crafting and had a passion for fabric. She spent countless hours cutting quilt squares and sewing them in patterns to bless her family with her quilts on special occasions such as births, confirmations, graduations and weddings. She could never pass a piece of material without touching it and double knit was her fabric of choice for her quilts. From painted rocks to cut out woodpeckers to felt bunnies, whatever caught her eye she would go home and re-create in her own style. If a contest was held for the person with the most fabric on-hand, Florence Ann could have won hands down.

Florence Ann is survived by her four children, RoseMary (Ron) Brezina of Alexandria, David (Janet) Svec of Lowry, RuthAnn (Dickie) Powell of Anchorage, AK, and Andrew Svec of Crookston; 15 grandchildren, Kevin (Laurie) Brezina, Brian (Danielle) Brezina, John Brezina, Nathan Brezina, Dan (Nancy) Brezina, Rhonda (Brent) Howard, Laura Brezina, Denise (Ken) Engle, Jedediah Svec, Dawn (David) Jenson, Jeremiah Svec, Ann Svec, Sara Syverson (Matt McAdams), Adam Syverson, and she considered Kelly Cole as one of her grandchildren as well; 13 great-grandchildren, Joshua, Joseph and Amanda Brezina, Tyler and Austin Brezina, Gabriela Syverson, Caden and Dylan Howard, John and Kendyll Jenson, Zachary Brezina, Hannah Brezina, and also considered Connor Cole as one; sister, Rose Marie and her husband, Myron Berglin, of Alexandria; brother, Bud and his wife, Tina Chan, of Alexandria; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Chan, Theresa Svec and Helen and her husband, Edgar Hammer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Walter, in 2006; a sister, Mary Jane Hvezda; and two brothers, Bernard Chan and Louis Chan Jr.

Mass of Christian Burial was held October 5 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in rural Lowry, Lake Reno, with Father Roger Thoennes officiating. Interment was at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

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