Benedictine Prioress Reflects On Florence Henderson

Benedictine Sister Barbara Lynn Schmitz, prioress of Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, provided the following comments on Florence Henderson to The Message:

“Florence and her husband John were good friends of the Sisters of St. Benedict.  Stories of her childhood, growing up one of 10 children, have been told over the ages. Florence would come to school without a coat in the winter, and Sr. Gemma Gettelfinger would put her right by the pot-bellied stove to warm her up.  Florence loved Sr. Gemma, and Sr. Gemma loved Florence. Sr. Gemma taught her music and recognized how blessed Florence was in music.  Florence never forgot Sr. Gemma.  In fact, one night on (the TV program) “This is Your Life,” they featured Florence and the curtains opened, and there stood Sr. Gemma to congratulate Florence.

“Florence was the type of person who would light up a room with her personality, yet never stood in the limelight.  She was a woman of gratitude and a woman of faith.  Coming from abject poverty, she overcame any obstacle that might keep her from sharing her talent or helping others.  When she sang with the Sisters at Roberts Stadium, she sang ‘Ordinary Miracles.’  That song spoke of her life.  It was in the ordinary miracles, the moments of grace, that Florence developed into the beautiful woman that she was to so many.

“We feel blessed by her friendship and grateful that she is now singing in heaven.”