Florence Lucille Blazina

Florence Lucille Perusich Blazina refined her fire and fought her way into the arms of Jesus the evening of December 16th with her daughter Cyndie, son in law Gary and good friend Jenny Smith at her side.

Florence ended her life the way she lived it, with determination, courage and unrelenting perseverance.

She was a spit-fire and Butte tough to the very end!

Florence was born Fcbruary 11, 1928 in Butte Montana to John and Ena Pcrusich. She was the oldest of 8 children and was extremely helpful to her Mother, some of her sibling have said she was a tough taskmaster and "didn't take crap off of anyone!" She was beautiful, as a child and through every step of her life inside and out. Anyone who met her admired her Butte tough attitude and amazing and constant smile. Her children's friends called her "Fire eyes" you didn't want to get on her wrong side! Her fierceness was only matched by her loyalty and love.

A few years after leaving high school she met and married Dell Smith and moved to Anaconda where he and his cousin started a construction business. In 1950 she gave birth to her first child Kathleen with Colleen and Cyndie to follow. The marriage did not survive and Florence worked hard to provide for her children alone for several years until being swept off her feet by the love of her life, a most wonderful man, Emil Blazina. They married in 1962 and together continued to raise their children and build a good life. Flo and Emil took their family on extensive vacations every year and when the kids moved on they continued to travel all over the US and into Canada . We lost Emil in 1996 and Florence made her way on her own with help from her children until moving to Missoula in 2018 to live with her daughter Cyndie.

Florence was·an accomplished artist, seamstress and decorator. Her house at Christmas was unbelievably beautiful and she loved to collect. She was a faithful Butte High fan and was the epitome of what Butte tough represented. She was a member of the Anaconda Elks 239, the Anaconda Community Hospital Auxiliary, the Anaconda Garden Club and a variety of clubs in her younger years. Her Grandson Eric wrote the following letter about his grandmother which pretty much says it all about how we, her family felt about her.

"The Lord gained an amazing woman last night. Words can't explain how amazing my grandmother was. Definitely the strongest, most caring I have ever seen. The life she lived could be written in books, of the adventures she went on, of the hard times she endured, the people she saw and met and the amazing family she created. I'm going to miss everything about you. Your stubbornness in which we all inherited, your loving heart, your strong will and the fact you had bigger muscles than most I know lol and could show it. We are all going to love and miss you Grandma! May you be at peace now."

Florence (Flo) leaves behind her children Kathleen (Kate) Gemar, Colleen Talbot, Cyndie and Gary Winchell. Brother Bill Perusich and sister Rose Nye. Grandchildren: Jamie and Tom Morgan, Stacy Henderson, Jim Dobb, Eric and Lexi Talbot, Hank and Emily Fabich, Everett Chase , Megan and Tim Donnelly, Tyler Winchell and 18 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews she loved deeply and all the friends along the way. She also leaves behind her cuddly loving puppies Tootsie, Boone, Sofie, Willy and kitties Sunday and Ebony who provided enormous comfort, entertainment, and companionship. They really miss their Grandma! Flo was preceded in death by her parents John and Ena Perusich, in laws Matt and Maria Blazina, siblings, John,Tom,Dorothy, George and James(Spike) Perusich and beloved granddaughter Jennifer Chase.

Our family would like to thank everyone who helped Florence in her final years. A special thank you to her friend and caregiver Keith Countryman for his loving care and companionship, Larry Sladich, Toni and Dave Richardson, Rose Davis and Jenny Smith for their never ending kindness and help with whatever Flo needed in the last years. We offer tremendous gratitude to the staff and nurses of Big Sky Hospice for their guidance and care maneuvering Flo's various illnesses and support at the end of her life.

Flo requested no services but her children feel her life deserves celebration. A funeral service will be held Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 401 Alder St., Anaconda, MT. A graveside service will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Anaconda, MT.  Following the graveside service, a reception will be held at the Anaconda Elks Lodge, 223 Main St., Anaconda, MT.

Memorials can be made to Big Sky Hospice, The Humane Society, Pintler Pets of Anaconda, The Cancer Society or any donors choice.

Please visit longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Florence.

Garden City Funeral Home of Missoula and Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Anaconda have been privileged to care for Florence and her family.