SR. MARY FLORENCE SCHULTZ

Sister Mary Florence Schultz was born in Wells, Minnesota on September 22, 1931, to John & Mary Schultz she was baptized Florence Helen. Sister Florence was blessed with one younger sister, Dorothy, and four older brothers, Clement, Francis, Norbert, and Philip.

She started thinking about becoming a Sister when she was in third grade, made a retreat in her senior year of high school to discern her call and shortly after graduation, on August 25, 1950, she and her cousin Maria Schultz entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection in Chicago.

After Novitiate Sr. Florence took courses at Fordham University in New York, then taught second grade at Saint Mary of the Angels for four years.

Sr. Florence started nurses training at Little Company of Mary Hospital in 1957 and graduated in 1960. Later she received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in nursing from DePaul University. At the request of a group of doctors Sister Florence took additional training on how to care for alcoholic patients and with these doctors started an alcoholic rehabilitation program at Resurrection Hospital. After a few years she was asked to take courses in infectious disease and became the infectious disease nurse for Resurrection.

Sister Florence served as Director of Nursing at Resurrection Nursing Pavilion for seventeen years. She earned a license as a Nursing Home Administrator then served as Administrator of Resurrection Life Center for three years. Then for nine years served as Regional Performance Improvement Director for nine nursing homes in Illinois and nursing homes in New York.

Sister Florence loved caring for patients and often went back to the patients in the evening to pray with them and reassure them of God’s love for them. She encouraged patients who had been estranged from the Church to see a priest while in the hospital. Her greatest joy was helping people find their way back to God. While ministering at Resurrection Medical Center she also served two terms as the Local Superior. Sister also served as a Provincial Councilor for twelve years.

Sister Florence’s final assignment was as superior of the Queen of the Resurrection for the care of senior members of the Congregation. She often said that serving her own Sisters was an honor and a great joy to serve her own Sisters.

No matter what ministry she was involved in Sister Florence touched the hearts of those she served and those she served with. She loved people and always looked for the good in others and affirmed them. She loved mentoring and supporting young nurses and young Sisters. She was thoughtful and concerned for everyone she knew, supporting them with notes, cards, and phone calls to reassure them of her prayers and her love.

Sister Florence loved being a Sister of the Resurrection and loved living community life. On the occasion of her golden anniversary of vows, Sister Florence wrote: “As I grow older, I am more aware of the mystery of my life. I believe that God has chosen me in this Community for a specific purpose and so it is important for me to not ask what the Community can do for me but rather to ask myself what I can do for the community.”

A special blessing Sister Florence often reflected on was the opportunity to visit the Holy Land. She often talked about how close she felt to Jesus when she walked on the same ground that He walked on, watched the sunset over the Sea of Galilee, and touched the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane.

In first quarter of 2023 Sister’s glaucoma became worse and her heart became weaker. In the late spring Sister had surgery on a heart valve and by the summer of 2023 Sister Florence lost most of her vision. She became weaker and had to be transferred to St. Benedict Village for full care. Even during her final days Sister

Florence continued ministering to others. She promised to pray for the nurses who cared for her and made sure to thank them for everything they did for her. Sister Florence died peacefully the morning of November 17, 2023.

Sister Florence’s funeral Mass was held on November 21, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Church. Father Paul Sims, C.R. served as the Celebrant and two other Resurrectionists served as Concelebrants. Sister Florence was buried at Saint Adalbert Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Sister Donna Marie Wolowicki, C.R. Provincial Superior
November 20, 2023