Florence Abbott

"Babs"(85) passed away peacefully in her home on Bainbridge Island, WA., June 15th, 2008. Born in Brooklyn, New York on September 7th 1922, the daughter of Harold and Florence von Hasslacher lived a full life. Mrs. Abbott, the wife of Charles G. Abbott for 65 years, is survived by her husband, five children, Jay, Joe, Lainey, Hal and Charlie and four grandchildren Chelsea, Beau, Brady and Jordy. Babs Abbott worked with several charitable organizations during her life which included a dedication to the well being of children and young adults. The Children's Aid Society, Bainbridge Island Helpline House, The New Canaan and Seattle Garden Clubs, Bainbridge Island Land Trust and The League of Women Voters were among the organizations she volunteered with over the years.Flowers, gardens and public space landscaping were also a passion for Babs. In New Canaan, Connecticut, she planted gardens under all the trees on Main Street. Once complete, she convinced shopkeepers to tend them and eventually the town took over the job. In any spare moment, one might find her, pruning shears in hand, tending to her beloved gardens around the house.Babs Abbott will be remembered, by all who knew her, as a kind, thoughtful and productive spirit who put the environment and the people that inhabit it before all other concerns. As early as the 1960‘s, all household waste was recycled even before a facility existed to take it. She even canceled the refuse collection service and brought the few pounds of monthly un-recycled waste directly to the town dump. Babs had a knack for drawing people into her vision of a healthy planet and a vibrant society to tend to it. Mrs. Abbott was tireless in her efforts to improve this world one garden and one person at a time.Passion for the arts and sports regularly wove their way into her daily life. As a younger woman she played the woodwind recorder and in her later years she sponsored dancing instruction, including a line dancing instructor at her 80th birthday celebration. Trips to the symphony and the theatre were always on the top of her list for leisure activity. Similarly, a book was all she needed to pass an afternoon. Tennis, skiing, golf, sailing and swimming were all favorite sporting activities for Babs and she kept at most all of them well into her later years. In keeping with her love of people, Babs championed activities centered on camaraderie, learning and socializing. Wacky Weeders, Book Club, knitting and helping friends in need took up much of Mrs. Abbott's time in her years on Bainbridge Island. Always quick with a story or anecdote, she kept her friends and family involved and engaged in whatever task was at hand.Christmas caroling on God's Acre in New Canaan, Connecticut became such a treasured event for Babs that she recreated the ritual in Bainbridge Island. Starting with just 20 people in her front yard and ending with more than 100 people in Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park, she shared her joy of the season with all that joined her in song.A private service will be held for family only on Wednesday, June 18th. Later this summer, a memorial service and celebration of Babs' life will be announced. In lieu of flowers, please support either of Babs' favorite charities. They are Helpline House and The Children's Aid Society, http://helplinehouse.org/index.shtml and http://www.childrensaidsociety.org.*For The Children's Aid Society on-line donors only, please do not check the box, "Mail a letter on my behalf" (under heading, 'Tribute Information'). Unless you prefer to make an anonymous gift, your name will automatically be included in a notification letter and sent to the Abbott family.