Florentia Riebel Obituary, Death – We are deeply saddened to inform you that Sister Florentia Riebel has gone away at the age of 106. We had no prior knowledge of her passing. She was a minister at St. Mary’s for more than 70 years, and many people referred to her as “Sister Flo.” She served there for most of her life. She devoted all 88 years of her life to praising and glorifying the Blood of Christ as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ.
She graduated with a nursing diploma from the St. Mary Hospital School of Nursing in 1941 and was given a post as a supervisor on the medical and surgical floor precisely one week after receiving her degree. After that, she worked for the next two years as the nursing unit supervisor at the Artesia Municipal Hospital in New Mexico, where she was employed. During that time, she was responsible for all of the nursing units at the hospital.
Following the completion of her shift at St. Mary’s Hospital, Sister Flo boarded a train bound for Pennsylvania, where she was to take part in a training program designed to assist in the care of polio patients. In the end, she decided to enroll in the School of Physical Therapy at the University of Chicago. In 1952, she successfully completed her studies there and was awarded a degree in physical therapy. She finally made her way back to St. Mary’s, where she established the first physical therapy program in the area to aid those who had overcome polio and its effects.
In 1999, Sister Flo began her retirement, and almost soon afterward, she became interested in various forms of volunteer work. We would want to let the family of Sister Flo and the members of the community whose lives she touched know that they are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We offer our condolences on behalf of St. Mary’s, which is very saddened by the news.