Florence Marie Caron

Florence (Blake) Caron, 95, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 12th. Born on August 15, 1928 to Clarence and Grace (Kelly) Blake, she was a lifelong resident of West Springfield. Florence's career was raising her children (think June Cleaver). She was an avid reader, a talented crafts-person and enjoyed crossword puzzles (which she always completed in ink!). She was known by many names: Florence, Flo, Flossie, Sally, Mom, Gram, GG, Mrs. Caron... And she filled many roles: wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, godmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend. No matter what you called her or how you knew her, she was kind, unassuming and caring. She would tell you that her passing is not a time of sorrow, but of celebration. She has been waiting a long time to be reunited with the love of her life, husband Philip. As you read this, they are probably hanging out and playing cards with her brothers, Bob and Billy, sharing a pot of tea with friends Kate and Paul or chatting about the grandchildren with daughter-in-law, Annette. She will be greatly missed by her sons, Thomas and Philip, daughters Kate and Mary, grandchildren Sarah, Jill (Heather) Blake, and Andrea, great-grandchildren Ryan and Madelynn Mae, god-daughter Maryellen Duffy, many beloved nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law Antoinette Blake, Helyn Dupelle and Ursula Tuohey. A special thank you goes out to the compassionate Hanover staff at CareOne at Redstone in East Longmeadow, and to the kind folks from Baystate Hospice. The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, December 19th at 11:00am, with a Funeral Home Service at 12:00 noon at Toomey-O'Brien Funeral Home. Burial will immediately follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield, or your local library.