| Notes |
- Flo was the eldest of the 10 children born to Sidney Stanley Walkley and Ethel Lowe Brewster, 21 April 1908 at Palmerston North.
In 1913 Flo was holidaying at her grandmother's boarding house, 45 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland, when New Zealand was hit by the worldwide flu' epidemic and no one was allowed to travel. By the time the all clear was given Flo's independent nature had come to the fore and she decided she was quite happy staying in Auckland with her grandmother. She was enrolled at the local convent school in the Ponsonby area. Although not a catholic she appears to have enjoyed school and was encouraged by the nuns to study the piano. Music became one of her life's passions and she went on to qualify as a music teacher.
Through the depression years she continued to help with the running of the boarding house. In the early 1930s a boarder was leaving and he asked Flo's grandmother if his place could be taken over by his friend, Francis Maurice Yendell who had recently arrived from Devon, UK. Flo's life changed for ever. In October 1935 they were married, they had saved the princely sum of 100 pounds, the minimum amount Maurice felt they would need to start their lives together.
In 1937 Maurice & Flo moved to Hamilton where Maurice and his youngest brother Jim opened a furnishing business, "Yendells' Furnishers". Flo helped out in the office. On the 29th April 1938 their first child Barry Grant Yendell was born. In keeping with the times, Flo became a full time mother and looked after their first home at 15 Mrytle Street, Claudlands, Hamilton. On 22 August 1941 their first daughter, Gloria Clare Yendell was born. The family was completed on 19th October 1944 with the birth of another daughter Marilyn Gay Yendell.
Yendells' Furnishers continued to grow and at the end of 1951 Maurice & Flo were able to move into their dream house at 146 Clarence St, Hamilton. This became the family home until their retirement in 1971.
Maurice & Flo's lives outside of their family could fall under 2 main headings, travel and public service.
Travel: They both had an insatiable curiosity about the world and made the most of many opportunities to travel. Their first major 9 month world trip in 1952 gave them both memories they treasured for life.
Public Service: Maurice played an active role in the Hamilton community becoming deputy mayor. He was also on the boards of 3 High Schools in Hamilton, actively involved in the IHC and the cancer society. Flo supported him in all his work.
Once retired there was more time to travel. They based themselves in Taupo for 2 years at the family holiday home in Heeni St, Whareweka Point. In 1974 they bought a town house in Hamilton at 1B Domain Drive. They really enjoyed their retirement years but unfortunately they weren't to last. In October 1977 Maurice died of lung cancer after a very short illness.
When a new retirement village opened at Alandale, River Rd, Hamilton Flo bought one of the first units and spent 17 enjoyable years surrounded by some of her Hamilton friends. Alandale was also conveniently placed for family members to be able to visit easily if en route from other areas in NZ.
Flo felt she had been blessed with a very happy, interesting life. The one real sorrow the family had was Gloria's death from cancer in 1968 at the age of 26.
Flo died peacefully 7 September 2004 at the age of 96.
- Flo seems to have been living in the Manawatu until at least 1919, so the 1913 date is certainly incorrect. Robert and Martha Brewster didn't move to Auckland until the 1920s and the influenza pandemic wasn't until 1918. She was attending the St Benedict's Convent in Auckland in 1922 however. (Papers Past)
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1908 - 2004 (96 years)