Flo Carris, 91, of Boothbay, died peacefully at Gosnell Hospice House in Scarborough, on Sept. 28 after she developed progressive heart failure. She was born in Chicago, Ill. in 1919. Her childhood home was in Winnetka, Ill. She attended Mills College in Oakland, Cal. and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BS degree. She taught physical education at the Ohio State University before she met and married James V. Carris, M.D. They moved to Colorado Springs, Col. in 1949 where Dr. Carris practiced medicine. She moved to a retirement community in Boothbay Harbor eight years ago to be near her daughter, Lynne Nicoletta.
In addition to raising her two children, Craig K. Carris, M.D., of Colorado Springs and Lynne Nicoletta, of Boothbay, she was a devoted grandmother to her four grandchildren, Christopher Nicoletta, Megan Vucinovich, Amy Carris and Todd Carris.
Flo was an outdoor enthusiast. She and Jim enjoyed skiing when skis were wood and tows were made of rope. Water sports were a favorite, including canoe trips to the Boundary Waters in Canada and boating trips to Lake Powell. She spent many summers as a young girl at Camp Osoha in Wisconsin. She returned in her 80s to this camp to teach crafts and give campfire talks.
She traveled the world with her family and her good friend, Sister Myra James. This included trips to Africa, the Holy Land and India as well as Europe. In an era when many women did not have professional careers, Flo became a “professional volunteer.” In addition to serving on the boards of Penrose Hospital, the El Paso County Health Department, the Colorado State Medical Auxiliary and almost too many organizations to mention. She is best known for starting the Pikes Peak Hospice with her good friend Susan Langstaff at a time when the word “hospice” was not in the vernacular. Her other major volunteer accomplishment was the development of the Namaste Center for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. She spear-headed the project with her good friend, Sister Myra James Bradlley. As a testimony to her works, she was named Volunteer of the Year for El Paso County in 1981, and received the Sword of Hope Award given by the Penrose Cancer Program, and the Distinguished Service Award by the University of Colorado Board of Regents.
She was a devoted member of the First Congregational Church in Colorado Springs, and subsequently joined the Congregational Church in Boothbay Harbor. Her quest for spiritual clarity allowed her to be accepted as a Protestant Associate Member of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Service in her memory 2 p.m., Sat., Oct. 23 at the First Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor.
Memorial gifts in Flo’s honor may be made to Gosnell Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Rd., Scarborough, ME 04074, or the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, 125 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.
Condolences to the family may be expressed on Flora’s memorial page at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 975 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay.
