Tributes for food legend ‘aunty Flori’
BELOVED Bonteheuwel cook Florence Schrikker, affectionately known as “aunty Flori”, died at the weekend following heart bypass surgery.
The 67-year-old culinary fundi had experienced complications as a result of the surgery last month.
Messages of condolence poured in for Schrikker, who was one half of the famous local cooking show Flori en Koelsoem se Kosse and was the co-author of Kook saam Kaaps, published in 2016 with her late cooking partner Koelsom “aunty Koelie” Kamalie.
She died as a result of kidney failure in April.
In a social media post, local cook Fatima Sydow expressed her sadness.
“We learned such a lot from you…You made us laugh so much that our tummies hurt. Always sending us beautiful messages. Your spirit and legacy will live on forever my dear Aunty Flori,” she said.
Dean of St George’s Cathedral, Reverend Michael Weeder posted a tribute poem for Schrikker.
“You were a joy to know and to be regarded as your friend was
“You made us laugh so much that our tummies hurt Fatima Sydow Cook and Admirer
an honour. Oh and the laughter, skuinslê van lekker lag. I cherish your offer once to make me a bowl of trifle when I shamelessly hinted at my favourite New Year’s Day overindulgence. You were larger than life,” an excerpt from Weeder’s poem read.
Ward councillor Angus Mckenzie said the Bonteheuwel community was “extremely shocked” to hear of the death of Schrikker on Saturday just after 5pm.
“Aunty Flori was a Bonteheuwel stalwart and hero who will be sorely missed for her amazing heart, giving nature and amazing dishes she cooked. Aunty Flori’s passing is a huge shock to the community and in our sadness we want to thank her family for sharing her, her talents and her love with each and every one of us.
“The B-block is especially in great mourning of aunty Flori as those are the people she was closest to. But there is a sense of peace that her and aunty Koelie are reunited in the hereafter dishing up the most amazing foods,” said Mckenzie.
He said the community would remember Schrikker for her ability to cook and the passion she had to feed the many mouths of the community, describing her as a catalyst for the feeding schemes and soup kitchens being run in the community.
“She will be sorely missed by all of us. As a community we will support the family with whatever it is they need. Aunty Flori was a mother to them but a mom to us all and for that we are so grateful,” said Mckenzie.