Florence M Geurink

On June 26, 2012, Florence passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by prayers, family and friends. She was 106. Florence was such a fixture at St. Stephen Catholic Church, they reserved her a front-row seat. Petite, with snow-white hair, parishioners often referred to her as “Everybody’s Mother.”

Growing up in Davenport, Iowa, Florence attended private Catholic schools. Florence told family members that she begged her father to allow her to attend an all-girl Catholic high school. When he told her he couldn’t afford the $75 per year tuition, she told him she would work on weekends to help pay, leading to an education that helped cement her religious faith.

In 1923, she met Clem L. Geurink and they were married in 1927. Together, the pair raised four daughters. Good with numbers, Florence worked as a bookkeeper at Oscar Meyer before she had children and later at the Rock Island Arsenal.

With a sweet, but competitive streak, Florence mastered the game of Bridge and missed it once she moved. She loved to travel and visited almost every state in the country.

After 73 years of marriage, Clem passed away at the age of 95. Florence continued to drive and live on her own for several years until she moved to Valrico in 2005, at the age of 99.

There she moved in with her youngest daughter, Liz McLaughlin, and set about finding a church. Feeling like she had something to offer the young people at St. Stephen, Florence soon became a member.

Florence attributed her long life to her ability to have a good time. During the last several years, when someone said something about her age, she often responded with this simple line: “Only the good die young.”

Florence is survived by her four daughters and 1 son in law: Mary Claire Doyle, Cedar Rapids, IA, Margot Ann and Gerald Carney, Hatfield, PA, Ann Marie Condon, Davenport, IA, Elizabeth Mary McLaughlin, Valrico, FL and 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Our family would like to give special loving recognition to her primary caregivers Lucy Cruz and Anita Anderson.

Photo taken by Rick Tauceda on May 10, 2012.

Visitation will be Friday June 29th from 5-7pm with the Funeral Mass being held Saturday June 30th at Noon, both at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico, FL.