Obituary of Flora Shirley Pocha

Flora Shirley Pocha was peacefully promoted to heaven on Jan 12, 2023 at  4:49 pm at the age of 85 surrounded by members of her immediate family at the Cranbrook Regional Hospital.

Flora was born in Macdowell, Saskatchewan, to Harold and Bessie Bannerman on Dec 13, 1937. She was their fourth child.

She was married to Lornel Allan Pocha on February 2nd, 1957, at the Anglican Church in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.  Soon to follow was their first child, Brian. Once settled, they completed their family with David, Ione and Connie.  After their first child was born, they loaded up all of their worldly goods and moved to British Columbia to work in the Logging industry.

She was a wonderful homemaker and always kept her house neat and tidy.  Her hands were a gift, cooking, canning, cleaning, sewing and knitting.  She made her children hats and mitts along with heavy, warm wool sweaters with beautiful designs on each.

She had many friends that looked up to her, and was a mentor to many. She was humble, but was also known to have a competitive side especially when playing bocce and UNO. As a young lady she competed in curling.

She often shared stories of how her daddy helped families in greater need especially with firewood. As a result, she raised her own children with a strong belief on how they were to be raised. She was strict on chores, mealtimes, bedtimes, and manners.  She also stressed to her children the importance of a strong moral compass.

Florie is preceded in death by her parents, Harold & Bessie Bannerman, her brothers David, Keith, Bill and one sister Frances, her mother in law Elva Hinch, and her daughter Ione Clark in 2011, whom she still grieved for.  Along with many in-laws, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her loving husband Lornel and their children; Brian (Mena), David, Connie (Dan) Madsen, son-in-law David Clark, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren,  sister Gladys Hodgson and many in-laws nieces and nephews.

A public celebration of life & light refreshments will be held on February 18, 2023, at The Dwelling Place Church, 2324 2nd St S., Cranbrook, BC, at 2 pm, officiated by Pastor Ron Short. Interment will be held at a later date in a private family event.  Live stream will be available on https://www.facebook.com/PastorRonShort and selecting link for YouTube.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the BC chapter of the Kidney Foundation. Cards or notes may be dropped off or delivered to the Dwelling Place Church during business hours.