Florence Grace Cannon, 83, of Washington Street Apartments, Barre, died May 4, 2016 at Central Vermont Medical Center surrounded by many members of her loving family. She was born on June 14, 1932 in Burke, Vermont the daughter of James Paul Messier and Eula Mae (Quimby) Messier and attended schools in Burke later earning her GED in 1990. Florence was married to Edward Matthias Cannon on November 6, 1954. They lived for many years in Northfield Falls, later divorcing and retiring in Barre. Edward is now deceased. Flo was home maker and seamstress for many years and also worked as administrative assistant for Vermont Forest & Parks Department. Flo was the pillar of her family. She was the strength of her family. She was always loving, never judgmental, and always forgiving. She was teacher, friend, and counselor – even when advice was not sought. She spent time with her siblings and their families and her friends whenever she knew of a need and also, her children and their families. In raising her family alone, Flo had a knack for making a dime a dollar. Flo became very active in her retirement with her neighbors and friends of Washington Street Apartments, quickly becoming the matriarch of the community and highly respected and loved by her Washington Street Apartment family. Flo was a self-appointed ambassador of the SASH (Support and Service at Home) program. She was an active member of Shepard's Chapel Ministries and the Fisherman's Ministries of Northfield Falls. Flo found great joy in studying her Bible every morning with Shepard's Chapel Ministries on television. Flo studied every day and enjoyed teaching the Lord's word. She loved to read and do word search puzzles. Her favorite television sport was Golf and she spent many a happy day watching it. No autumn was complete without stores of canned vegetables and fruits put aside for cold winter days. She enjoyed teaching her children, grandchildren and friends the art of preserving food. She taught crocheting, knitting, quilting and cooking to many. Her quilts were blue ribbon quality four-generation quilts. (Her mom cut the pieces, she assembled the quilts, children and grandchildren tied the quilts.) She loved and encouraged her families interests in arts. Survivors include her daughter, Mary Ellen Mae Hannigan and her husband John, of Barre, VT; two sons, Joseph Paul Cannon and his wife, Hannah of Barre, VT; and James Edward Cannon and his wife, Carrie of Northfield Falls, VT; 12 grandchildren: Jessica Harris, Patrick Cannon, Matthias Cannon, Tanya Cheney, Laurie Phelps, Eula-Jade Porter, Allen Hannigan, Carla Hannigan, Craig Sherman, Scott Sherman, Keith Cannon and Heather Cannon, 12 great grandchildren; sisters, Dolly Peters of Johnson, VT; Valencia McMannis of Hyde Park, VT; Nellie Irish of Rutland, VT; brothers, Paul Messier of Barre, VT; Wayne Messier of Eden, VT; Ernest Messier of Littleton, NH and Larry Messier of Johnson, VT; aunt, Lorane Quimby Colby and her husband, Morris of East St. Johnsbury, VT; and many nieces and nephews and honorary relatives. Florence was predeceased by two daughters, Helen Marie Cannon and Susan Jean Cannon; two grandchildren, Randall Cannon and Natoshia Cannon, sister, Paulene McElroy and two brothers, Gordon Messier and Abraham Messier. A Grave side memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m., Friday, May 20, 2016 at Mount Hope Cemetery, Northfield, VT. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to SASH, in care of Hillary Cole, Barre Housing Authority, 30 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641 to continue the wellness programs that benefited Flo and her community or to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, Inc., 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 or at www.CVHHH.org On-line condolences and complete obituary go to www.guareandsons.com