Florence Rose (Gries) Rexing, 95, Dale

Florence Rose (Gries) Rexing passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at the family farm where she had spent decades with her husband Cletus Rexing and their children. 

Florence was born on November 22, 1924, to Theresa (Schmitt) and Peter Gries in St. Wendel, Indiana. She married Cletus on June 1, 1946. 

She was a member of Mary Help of Christians (St. Francis of Assisi) since 1958. She was a member of the Ladies Sodality and quilted for many years.  Florence and Cletus won the Simon Brute award and Mother Teresa Service award.  She was an avid gardener, wonderful cook, and loved being with family.  Before marriage, she worked for many families along with riveting airplane wings during WWII, a real-life Rosie the Riverter.  She and her husband farmed for many years and later in life, she was a cook in several restaurants and at David Turnham school in Dale. 

She is survived by four sons, Lawrence (Jemma) of Lafayette, Steven (Ellen) of Dale, Gerald (Gloria) of Cumming, Ga., and Erwin (Jane) of Rock Hill, S.C., one son-in-law, John Payne of Dale; three daughters, Joan (Charles) Effinger of Plainfield, Brenda Rexing of Indianapolis, and Connie Rexing of Anderson; one bother, Alvin (Rita) Gries of Poseyville; three sisters-in-law, Mary (Herman) Rexing, Anita Marie (Joe) Rexing, and Anna Mae (Wiliam) Gries, all of Evansville; 16 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren. 

She was preceeded in death by her husband of 69 years, Cletus; two daughters, Marilyn Payne and Barbara Rexing; six brothers, Albert, John, Joseph, Adam, Sylvester, and William Gries; five sisters, Kathyrn (Clement Knapp), Margaret (Edward) Knapp, Lorine Gries, Rose (Vincent) Adler, and Mary (Gilbert) Steckler.

Services will be Thursday, November 5, 2020, at 11:00 CST in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Mary Help Of Christians Church, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Due to COVID 19 restrictions, visitation will be private. The service will be streamed live on YouTube.

The family would like to especially thank her neighbors Bob and Wilma Harper for looking out for her these past few years.  Also, they would like to greatly thank Lori Balbach and Elaine Burress for being her wonderful helpers and companions.  Finally, they would like to thank Kindred Hospice for their assistance these last few weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Dale or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org).

Online condolences may be shared at www.becherfuneralhome.com.