Florence A. (Lima) Church, age 62, wife of the late Walter F. Church Jr., of Rockport, died peacefully at her home on Thursday, February 16, 2012.
Florence was the daughter of the late Florence Pawlyk Lima and the late Edward Joseph Lima of Gloucester.
Florence attended Gloucester schools, graduating from Gloucester High School in 1967. She also graduated from the Westbrook School of Nursing in Maine, making her family and especially her grandmother, Diamantina, extremely proud. At the time of her passing, she was employed with Gorton’s of Gloucester, a place she had worked for over thirty years. Florence was very fond of her co-workers and she had a special place in their lives as well. She had been planning her retirement from Gorton’s this coming April.
Florence met her husband, Walter, later in life and together they enjoyed life’s simple things. They were truly devoted to each other, she was known for riding along in the golf cart while Walter played just to be together. When she married Walter, she moved into the Church family home, living there while she and Walter continued to work and care for his father and aunt until their deaths. She found solace in her knitting and embraced the quiet serenity of that home, especially when she lost her husband Walter. She continued to do so until the day she passed, living among the stuffed animals that Walter had given her during their marriage. They were a special gift that Florence and Walter shared between themselves.
Florence was a very simple, loving person. She never forgot a special occasion or a birthday (especially her nieces) always thinking of others before herself. She was also known to give the gift of song. Florence was born with angelic soprano that she shared with her Gorton’s co-workers every Christmas and whenever anyone requested her talent. This was her nature and it gave her great pleasure in life.
She treasured her faith and the support it gave to her. Whether she was going to mass, winning a turkey, or buying sweet bread for her friends and family, parishioners would see her at most of the church functions. She was proud to be part of the Guild at Our Lady of Good Voyage and the Gloucester Fraternity Club. The spiritual peace offered to her by Father Alves made her life more tranquil.
Florence is survived by her most cherished nieces, Alexis Lima Hendershot and her husband Joshua of Augusta, Maine and Anastasia Lima of Gloucester, Mass. They were the light of her life. Never a day went by when she did not think of them with love and looked forward to talking with them and catching up on their lives. She experienced great joy at the marriage of Alexis and Josh and was very proud of Anastasia when she went off to England to pursue her doctorate although she did indeed worry about her being overseas. She spoke often of the lunches and holidays that they shared together along with their mother and Florence’s former sister-in-law, Cheryl Olson- Lima. Florence also looked forward to her monthly shopping trips with her friend and sister-in-law Gail Kennedy Lima.
She is also survived by close relatives: Helen Lima and Ann Slocum of Gloucester and Kenneth Lima of Boynton Beach Florida, Gloria Pawlyk of Beverly, Roger Pawlyk of Peabody and Thomas Jr. Pawlyk of Wenham. She was predeceased by her husband Walter, brother Edward Lima of Gloucester, her parents and her grandmother Diamantina Fralic also of Gloucester and most recently her cousin Arthur Lima.
ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral will be held from the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester on Thursday, February 23rd at 8:45 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 9:30 am. Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 4-7pm at the funeral home.
The burial will be held in Seaside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cape Ann Animal Aid, 260 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930.
For online condolences, please visit greelyfuneralhome.com.
