by Bishop Raymond A. Lucker
Diocese of New Ulm

  Last week I attended the funeral of my cousin, Florence Lieb. Never married, she lived with her parents, then with her brothers and sisters, then finally alone in a big old house, for almost ninety-two years. What is more, she lived her whole life in the same house, in the same neighborhood, on one of the shortest streets in St. Paul. She attended Sacred Heart grade school and worked at a simple factory job nearby for many years. She never learned how to drive. Her world seemed small.

She was not famous, yet a keen observer of life around her. Her life was her family, her neighborhood, and her church. She loved people, especially her nieces and nephews, and generously responded to the daily events of their lives. She was sentimental, expressive, and emotional. Her world seemed small.

I would like to share with you a tribute to her written by her niece, Jill Lieb Beeman, that was read at the end of the funeral Mass. It captures the flavor of her life. In many ways Florence lived much like so many of the people of the Diocese of New Ulm: faithful, devoted to family and church, and ordinary in the best sense. Her world seemed small.

A Tribute to Florence Lieb "For ninety-one years God gave the world a gift. Her name was Florence. And for those of us whose lives she touched, who were fortunate enough to know her and to love her, we are grateful. She brought us joy. Her world seemed small.

"It can be said that Florence was a simple woman who lived a simple life. All of her years were spent in the same home at 399 Sinnen. Although she never married, she was surrounded by the love of family, friends and relatives. She loved to have people call and talk, or come over to visit. And when children came she always wanted to have candy or toys or treats on hand to make the visit special. Just last week, while in the North St. Paul Transitional Care Center, she wanted to borrow two $1.00 bills from Pat so that she would have something to give to her precious Calvin and Clayton when they came to see her. Florence was always giving her love to others. She called all of us "darling" and made us feel special. Her world seemed small.

"Florence had a good sense of humor and made us laugh countless times. She loved to tell her stories of going to the store for diaper pins, and especially the one about Leo in the run-a-way baby buggy . . . She had a cute way about her that made even strangers take a liking to her. One nurse at St. John’s Hospital said that in the first few minutes of taking care of Florence she knew she wanted to adopt her and take her home. Her world seemed small.

"By the standards of many Florence was not a rich woman. No modern house or fancy clothes or worldly travels or expensive possessions. Simple things made her happy. Going to the Dollar Store. Family celebrations. Having a pineapple sundae from the Dairy Queen. Wrapping paper. Sneaking salted-in-the-shell peanuts. Having her picture taken. Finding just the right greeting card to send. Looking around in Walgreen’s. Wearing all her rings. Watching "Home Improvement". Pretty napkins. Anything purple. Playing the "dice game" for prizes. Little simple pleasures brought her joy. Her world seemed small.

"So in reality, Florence was rich. She was very blessed for most of her life with amazingly good health. She had the love of her family. She had a kind and loving heart. It seems ironic that the tired heart that finally claimed her life was the greatest asset in her life; always giving, always pleasant, always full of love. Her world seemed small.

"I imagine if Florence is to be asked in heaven what her greatest treasure was in this life her answer would certainly be her nephew Jim. Her godson. Her guardian angel. Her strength and security. She could count on him to take care of literally every aspect of her life and her care and her home and her needs. Morning and night, and often in between, he was constantly there for her. She called him "her oxygen" and she loved him so. "Her Jimmy" who has the respect and gratitude and admiration of us all; who gave tirelessly of his time and love. He has shown us a true and pure example of what being a Christian really means. Her world seemed small.

"In the end the life of Florence can be a lesson for us all . . . That maybe it is the simple things that are the most important. That perhaps these are the things that make one’s life a success. To share our love; to try to make others happy; to have a good and kind and loving heart. Her world seemed small.

"We will miss you Florence. You were a special part of our family and we love you." Her world seemed small.

October 1999 Her world seemed small.