Was Selma really younger, that she didn't retire, and that they made a show about Flo retiring?

The actress who played Selma died of cancer in real life, so her character died on the show. The actress who played Flo died at the end of season 3, and the same thing happened to that character.

I can see how Selma (Selma Diamond) died. Did you notice all that chain smoking her character did?

And I never understood how Flo (Florence Halop) died.

it was never metioned how flo died mabye old age or so harry metioned it on the 4th season premier n that was it

I can see how Selma (Selma Diamond) died. Did you notice all that chain smoking her character did?

And I never understood how Flo (Florence Halop) died.

She died of breast cancer that spread to her lungs.

Did the producers know that Florence Halop was ill in real life (and perhaps didn't have much time left in the world), so they made an episode about her character having to retire just in case? I know that in an episode from the next season regarding Harry's long absent mother, Harry does tell Christine that when both Selma and Florence died he "felt loss".