Sister Gwen Floryance

I was born on June 26, 1928, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, four years before the Depression. I always looked back at that time when I learned to do without things, which was a good experience for the vow of poverty in religious life.

My father was born in Slovenia and my mother's family came from there to the United States, settling in Ely, Minnesota, because that was the Slovenian town for miners. (My grandfather was injured and died due to a mining accident.) So I am 100 percent Slovenian.

One day, I asked my mother why I was named Gwendolyn. She told me that when I was born five ladies came to see me and they decided that Gwendolyn would a good name for me! On my baptismal certificate, my father decided that I should have my mother's name as my middle name, Frances, but when I was baptized, she decided that my middle name should have a form of my father's name, so it was Victoria.

I have a brother, Bill, who spent his paper route money to take his sisters to a movie. Of my twin sisters, Marcella and Marceline, the latter has already gone to her eternal home. My younger sister, Loretta, was a real joy to me because I had a little sister to take care of. I went to the convent when she was four years old and that was a real sacrifice to me to leave her.

We had no Catholic school in our parish, so I never knew what a Catholic school was. I liked to sing, so I joined the choir when my family moved to St. Anthony Parish in West Allis. Sister Martin Wenzel was the musician and one day after Mass, when I helped her put books away, she said with a smile, “I bet you want to be a sister.” Without thinking or without even knowing what the religious life was, I said, “Yes.” From then on, she began to speak to me about the sisterhood and I was very interested in what she had to say.

Sister asked if I would like to come to the parish school, Pius XI, and I said I would ask my dad. He said I could, and there I met several sisters. Each time I met one of them in the hallways, I would say to myself, “She is so nice.” After I met more sisters, I found myself thinking that each one was very nice. From their example, I decided that I was sure of wanting to be a sister.

The day I entered, I remember going to the chapel with the other aspirants for a visit. After a very short visit, Sister Viola motioned for us to leave, and I remember thinking, “Just leave me here.” I was entranced with the beauty of the chapel.

I always appreciated the times that Sister Viola told us about the beginnings of our community, about our foundresses, and the slides she used to show to us. She opened up a new world for me and I loved it.

In religion, I was named Sister de Maria. When we went back to our original names, I shortened my name to Gwen.

My happiest mission was at Blessed Agnes in Chicago with Sister Teresa as our superior. I never learned her last name, but I was convinced that she was a saint. I observed her sense of service to the sisters and to the poor of the parish. Her kindness and humility were exemplary, and she became a model for me. Unfortunately I was on that mission only one year because we could choose  which province we wished to belong to and I chose Milwaukee because I was born here and I knew the city.

I have been edified by so many sisters who served God and lived the Gospel. I always felt that I was living with good people. I cannot wait to meet our foundresses in heaven, and who would ever give up knowing Sisters Almerida and Lamberta?

Finally, I wish to thank God for all of  His graces in my lifetime. I am grateful for my parents, Victor and Frances, and to my grandparents who raised me in the Catholic faith and their example of dedication to the Church.

I am grateful to my brother and sisters for the good years we spent together. I am grateful to my nieces and nephews, my grand-nieces and grand-nephews, my many relatives and friends. Not the least, I am grateful for the many children I was so privileged to teach.

I ask pardon of everyone who I might have offended and I ask you to please pray for me.