Florence (Floria) Costea

It is with love and sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Florence (Floria) Costea.  Florence (Floria) Costea, aged 88 years of Moose Jaw, SK passed away peacefully and suddenly at her home on Monday, June 25th, 2018.  Florence was born November 12th, 1929 at Ormiston, SK to Ana (Dumitrian) Crishbashan and Constantine Crishbashan.  She had six (6) siblings, namely, Maria, Aurelia, Helen, Constantine, George and Alexander.  Mom grew up on a farm by Ormiston, SK where her parents raised sheep and cattle. My Mom worked hard on the farm, and mainly worked outside alongside her father, mother & siblings.  She often talked about how she liked to work amongst the sheep and help her father to shear their wool. Her mother would then spin the wool and make fabric. Mom talked about how she loved to ride horses bareback.  In August 1949, Mom met Nick Costea of Dysart, SK through relatives. I guess you could call it a ‘blind date’. Mom lived with the family for 3 months, for her and Dad to get to know each other. She said Dad was handsome and she liked that he played the violin.  Dad always said that Mom was a beautiful woman. Nick & Florence were united in marriage October 29th, 1949 at St. Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church in Regina, SK.  They farmed together and were blessed with four (4) children, Louise, Lorraine, Leonard and Vernon.  Mom & Dad worked hard together on the farm, raising cattle, pigs, chickens, geese and turkeys. Mom had a huge garden with many vegetables & potatoes.  Mom was a good cook and liked to make soups, chicken stew with mamalaga and she baked beautiful bread and cinnamon buns to die for. Mom enjoyed growing beautiful flowers.  Her red and pink holly hock flowers would tower in height against the two-storey home we lived in. Mom also enjoyed embroidery and embroidered many beautiful pieces. Dad and Mom attended St. George’s Romanian Orthodox Church for many years and Mom belonged to the ladies auxiliary at the Romanian Hall.  She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always asked about them, even after they had grown and were busy with their lives. In April 1997, Dad passed away. Mom remained on the farm for a few months and then moved to Regina where she lived for one year, and then Moose Jaw where she resided for the past 20 years.  Florence was predeceased by her parents, Ana in 1955 & Constantine Crishbashan in 1988; her loving husband, Nick in 1997; her brothers: Alex in 1932 (died in infancy), Constantine 1943 (killed by lightning), George in 1994; sisters: Aurelia in 1924 (in infancy), Helen in 1934 (tuberculosis), and Mary (Maria) in 2010; and sisters-in-law: Helen Roy, Ann Mangos, Mary Frank & Jenny Murphy.  Florence is survived by her children: Louise (Stan) Woroschuk (Yorkton), Lorraine Costea (Surrey, BC), Leonard Costea (Regina), and Vernon Costea (Regina); grandchildren: Lee Ann (Peter) Novak (White City, SK), Angie Redpath (Lloydminster, AB), and LaVerne Woroschuk (Steve Bailey) (Calgary, AB); great-grandchildren: Madisyn Redpath, Karsyn Redpath, Cael Redpath, Lane Novak, and Kelsea Novak: sisters-in-law: Connie Bowering (Regina), Betty Taunton (Hamilton, ON); brother-in-law, Bill Hariniuk (Moose Jaw); and nephew, Dave Hariniuk (Regina).  A Graveside Service was held on Wednesday, July 4th, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. in St. George’s Romanian Orthodox Cemetery at Dysart, SK with Father Rodion Luciuk officiating.  A time of fellowship followed at the Senior Citizen’s Hall in Dysart.  In lieu of flower, donations in Florence’s name may be made to The Arthritis Society, 110 – 2550 – 12th Ave, Regina, SK S4P 3X1.