Obituary of Florence J. Huggins

Flo, or “Florrie” as she was known to her Irish family, grew up on a farm in Forkhill, County Armagh, Ireland. She was one of 7 children born to Thomas McCreesh and Florence McCreesh (Fegan). As a child, Flo wrote an essay for school where she laid out a life plan to travel the world and own her own shop - she accomplished both. In her early twenties, Flo sailed to South Africa from Ireland with a friend to live and work for a few years. She took part in the first all-female safari, worked at a bank and had many adventures. After returning to Ireland for a short time, she moved to San Francisco to join a cousin and worked at the Irish Consulate. It was in San Francisco that Flo met and married her ex-husband Kenneth Huggins whom she eventually moved out west with, living in South Dakota, Texas and Nebraska before finally settling in Colorado. Flo raised four children. While living in Omaha, Flo established, owned, and operated The Irish Shop specializing in quality Irish imports. Flo would return to Ireland every year for the dual purpose of hand picking the goods for her shop, and to spend time with her family who remained in Ireland. When she moved to Colorado, she eventually sold the store and opened an Irish Shop in Estes Park. Flo volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate working with abused children. She also visited inmates and helped run “Alternative to Violence” weekend seminars at County Jails and Canon City State Prison. Her feisty personality was well suited to these volunteer positions. She was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Flo loved to travel, play bridge, throw a party, hike, sit by the river at her cabin in Estes Park and to have a good chat with friends and family. She was a vivacious, adventurous, strong and loving mother, friend, sister, and grandmother who will be missed by many. Flo is preceded in death by her two beloved sons, Ronald and Sean, and her ex-husband Kenneth. She is survived by her daughter Suzanne (Dan) Meehan, son Brian (Michelle) Huggins; 7 grandchildren: Joshua Huggins, Sean Huggins, Michaela Huggins, Jordan Meehan, Mariah Meehan, Rachael Meehan, Luke Huggins, Connor Huggins; 6 siblings: Nan McCormick, Peter McCreesh, Mary Murphy, Joe McCreesh, Eileen O Connor, Thomas McCreesh. She will be greatly missed. Private family service and burial to be held on Wednesday Dec 23rd,10am at Sacred Heart of Mary with live-streaming available to all at https://www.youtube.com/c/SacredHeartOfMaryBoulder/live. Pallbearers: Brian Huggins, Jordan Meehan, Josh Huggins, Sean Huggins, Luke Huggins, Connor Huggins Memorial Gifts may be designated to Catholic Charities or Boulder Homeless Shelter.