Florence Felten was born at Boonville, Mo. on Jan. 27, 1893, one of a family of eight. From the time of her First Communion at the age of ten she felt she wanted to be a Sister some day. However, being somewhat of a tom-boy, those who knew her thought this very unlikely. She attended St. Joseph's Academy at Clyde for two years and spoke to Father Lukas about her vocation. He counseled her to wait a while, so it was not until Nov. 1912 that she became a postulant at Clyde.
She was invested with the religious habit the following January, this shortened period of postulancy being deemed sufficient as the superiors knew her well from her school days. On Jan.24, 1914 she was professed as Sister M. Imelda, and on Jan. 6, 1921 pronounced her perpetual vows. A younger sister, Agnes, entered in Feb. 1916 and received the name of Sister M. Elfleda. The two of them were very closely associated, especially the last few years of Sister's life, and were a great comfort and support to each other.
In her early years Sister M. Imelda taught bookkeeping and physical culture at the Academy. She was also prefectress for one year. After recuperating from a breakdown in health, she was sent as a pioneer to the new foundation in Chewelah, Washington in 1922. There she taught at a small school and helped with the farm work. She returned to Clyde in 1926 and served as portress. She also helped with the secretarial work for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart and Caritas work.
In June, 1928 Sister was in the first group assigned to the new foundation at Mundelein where she served as portress and bookkeeper. In 1935 she was given charge of the maintenance of the building and grounds, retaining this charge until 1963, in spite of a fractured hip. She was creative and well organized in her work, and always conscientious to the smallest detail.
During her last years at Mundelein, Sister's eyesight failed progressively, and she went to work in the altar bread department, packing and sealing the breads for mailing. She also suffered a serious loss of hearing, and in time became almost completely deaf. Ear surgery brought temporary relief, as did also the use of a hearing aid.
In Dec, 1971, Sister returned to Clyde, where she enjoyed the close companionship of her sister, Sister M. Elfleda. Though her step was a bit slow and careful, she remained young at heart, and always retained a delightful sense of humor. Once when told that a brief article about her was to appear in "Spirit & Life" she quipped that it did not seem proper to write the life of a saint before her demise.
For as long as she was able, Sister went to the craft room daily and did what handicraft work she could. She enjoyed listening to records, especially the 'talking books' obtained from the society for the blind. With these she was able to keep up a wide variety of interests.
While on a home visit in October, 1974, attending the funeral of a sister, she fell and badly fractured her hip. From that time she was completely bedfast. On the 13th of April, 1975, she became violently ill during the night, and passed away the following night. She had attained the age of eighty-two years, and had enjoyed the privilege of celebrating both her Golden and Diamond Jubilees; also the Consecration of Virgins. Though her mind became confused at times, Sister kept her sense of humor to the end and always enjoyed a good laugh.
This is not to say, however, she was not serious in her religious commitment. She was a staunch, determined person, unique in many ways, but childlike in her simplicity, and loyal to the nth degree in her commitment to God and in her vocation as a perpetual adorer.
Contributor: BSPA Archives (50528871)
She was invested with the religious habit the following January, this shortened period of postulancy being deemed sufficient as the superiors knew her well from her school days. On Jan.24, 1914 she was professed as Sister M. Imelda, and on Jan. 6, 1921 pronounced her perpetual vows. A younger sister, Agnes, entered in Feb. 1916 and received the name of Sister M. Elfleda. The two of them were very closely associated, especially the last few years of Sister's life, and were a great comfort and support to each other.
In her early years Sister M. Imelda taught bookkeeping and physical culture at the Academy. She was also prefectress for one year. After recuperating from a breakdown in health, she was sent as a pioneer to the new foundation in Chewelah, Washington in 1922. There she taught at a small school and helped with the farm work. She returned to Clyde in 1926 and served as portress. She also helped with the secretarial work for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart and Caritas work.
In June, 1928 Sister was in the first group assigned to the new foundation at Mundelein where she served as portress and bookkeeper. In 1935 she was given charge of the maintenance of the building and grounds, retaining this charge until 1963, in spite of a fractured hip. She was creative and well organized in her work, and always conscientious to the smallest detail.
During her last years at Mundelein, Sister's eyesight failed progressively, and she went to work in the altar bread department, packing and sealing the breads for mailing. She also suffered a serious loss of hearing, and in time became almost completely deaf. Ear surgery brought temporary relief, as did also the use of a hearing aid.
In Dec, 1971, Sister returned to Clyde, where she enjoyed the close companionship of her sister, Sister M. Elfleda. Though her step was a bit slow and careful, she remained young at heart, and always retained a delightful sense of humor. Once when told that a brief article about her was to appear in "Spirit & Life" she quipped that it did not seem proper to write the life of a saint before her demise.
For as long as she was able, Sister went to the craft room daily and did what handicraft work she could. She enjoyed listening to records, especially the 'talking books' obtained from the society for the blind. With these she was able to keep up a wide variety of interests.
While on a home visit in October, 1974, attending the funeral of a sister, she fell and badly fractured her hip. From that time she was completely bedfast. On the 13th of April, 1975, she became violently ill during the night, and passed away the following night. She had attained the age of eighty-two years, and had enjoyed the privilege of celebrating both her Golden and Diamond Jubilees; also the Consecration of Virgins. Though her mind became confused at times, Sister kept her sense of humor to the end and always enjoyed a good laugh.
This is not to say, however, she was not serious in her religious commitment. She was a staunch, determined person, unique in many ways, but childlike in her simplicity, and loyal to the nth degree in her commitment to God and in her vocation as a perpetual adorer.
Contributor: BSPA Archives (50528871)
Florence Felten was born at Boonville, Mo. on Jan. 27, 1893, one of a family of eight. From the time of her First Communion at the age of ten she felt she wanted to be a Sister some day. However, being somewhat of a tom-boy, those who knew her thought this very unlikely. She attended St. Joseph's Academy at Clyde for two years and spoke to Father Lukas about her vocation. He counseled her to wait a while, so it was not until Nov. 1912 that she became a postulant at Clyde.
She was invested with the religious habit the following January, this shortened period of postulancy being deemed sufficient as the superiors knew her well from her school days. On Jan.24, 1914 she was professed as Sister M. Imelda, and on Jan. 6, 1921 pronounced her perpetual vows. A younger sister, Agnes, entered in Feb. 1916 and received the name of Sister M. Elfleda. The two of them were very closely associated, especially the last few years of Sister's life, and were a great comfort and support to each other.
In her early years Sister M. Imelda taught bookkeeping and physical culture at the Academy. She was also prefectress for one year. After recuperating from a breakdown in health, she was sent as a pioneer to the new foundation in Chewelah, Washington in 1922. There she taught at a small school and helped with the farm work. She returned to Clyde in 1926 and served as portress. She also helped with the secretarial work for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart and Caritas work.
In June, 1928 Sister was in the first group assigned to the new foundation at Mundelein where she served as portress and bookkeeper. In 1935 she was given charge of the maintenance of the building and grounds, retaining this charge until 1963, in spite of a fractured hip. She was creative and well organized in her work, and always conscientious to the smallest detail.
During her last years at Mundelein, Sister's eyesight failed progressively, and she went to work in the altar bread department, packing and sealing the breads for mailing. She also suffered a serious loss of hearing, and in time became almost completely deaf. Ear surgery brought temporary relief, as did also the use of a hearing aid.
In Dec, 1971, Sister returned to Clyde, where she enjoyed the close companionship of her sister, Sister M. Elfleda. Though her step was a bit slow and careful, she remained young at heart, and always retained a delightful sense of humor. Once when told that a brief article about her was to appear in "Spirit & Life" she quipped that it did not seem proper to write the life of a saint before her demise.
For as long as she was able, Sister went to the craft room daily and did what handicraft work she could. She enjoyed listening to records, especially the 'talking books' obtained from the society for the blind. With these she was able to keep up a wide variety of interests.
While on a home visit in October, 1974, attending the funeral of a sister, she fell and badly fractured her hip. From that time she was completely bedfast. On the 13th of April, 1975, she became violently ill during the night, and passed away the following night. She had attained the age of eighty-two years, and had enjoyed the privilege of celebrating both her Golden and Diamond Jubilees; also the Consecration of Virgins. Though her mind became confused at times, Sister kept her sense of humor to the end and always enjoyed a good laugh.
This is not to say, however, she was not serious in her religious commitment. She was a staunch, determined person, unique in many ways, but childlike in her simplicity, and loyal to the nth degree in her commitment to God and in her vocation as a perpetual adorer.
Contributor: BSPA Archives (50528871)
She was invested with the religious habit the following January, this shortened period of postulancy being deemed sufficient as the superiors knew her well from her school days. On Jan.24, 1914 she was professed as Sister M. Imelda, and on Jan. 6, 1921 pronounced her perpetual vows. A younger sister, Agnes, entered in Feb. 1916 and received the name of Sister M. Elfleda. The two of them were very closely associated, especially the last few years of Sister's life, and were a great comfort and support to each other.
In her early years Sister M. Imelda taught bookkeeping and physical culture at the Academy. She was also prefectress for one year. After recuperating from a breakdown in health, she was sent as a pioneer to the new foundation in Chewelah, Washington in 1922. There she taught at a small school and helped with the farm work. She returned to Clyde in 1926 and served as portress. She also helped with the secretarial work for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart and Caritas work.
In June, 1928 Sister was in the first group assigned to the new foundation at Mundelein where she served as portress and bookkeeper. In 1935 she was given charge of the maintenance of the building and grounds, retaining this charge until 1963, in spite of a fractured hip. She was creative and well organized in her work, and always conscientious to the smallest detail.
During her last years at Mundelein, Sister's eyesight failed progressively, and she went to work in the altar bread department, packing and sealing the breads for mailing. She also suffered a serious loss of hearing, and in time became almost completely deaf. Ear surgery brought temporary relief, as did also the use of a hearing aid.
In Dec, 1971, Sister returned to Clyde, where she enjoyed the close companionship of her sister, Sister M. Elfleda. Though her step was a bit slow and careful, she remained young at heart, and always retained a delightful sense of humor. Once when told that a brief article about her was to appear in "Spirit & Life" she quipped that it did not seem proper to write the life of a saint before her demise.
For as long as she was able, Sister went to the craft room daily and did what handicraft work she could. She enjoyed listening to records, especially the 'talking books' obtained from the society for the blind. With these she was able to keep up a wide variety of interests.
While on a home visit in October, 1974, attending the funeral of a sister, she fell and badly fractured her hip. From that time she was completely bedfast. On the 13th of April, 1975, she became violently ill during the night, and passed away the following night. She had attained the age of eighty-two years, and had enjoyed the privilege of celebrating both her Golden and Diamond Jubilees; also the Consecration of Virgins. Though her mind became confused at times, Sister kept her sense of humor to the end and always enjoyed a good laugh.
This is not to say, however, she was not serious in her religious commitment. She was a staunch, determined person, unique in many ways, but childlike in her simplicity, and loyal to the nth degree in her commitment to God and in her vocation as a perpetual adorer.
Contributor: BSPA Archives (50528871)
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