Sister Florentia Riebel, ASC is celebrating 87 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. She made her first profession on Aug. 6, 1934 and her final vows on Aug. 10, 1939.
Sister Florentia was born in Schoenchen, Kansas, to Clement and Anna Riebel. She received her certificate in nursing and physical therapy from the state of New Mexico in Santa Fe. She also was certified in physical therapy by Northwestern University in Chicago. Additional education included training in the field of prosthetics, clinical prosthetics, below-knee amputations and caring for polio patients.
Sister Florentia served as nurse supervisor at St. Mary’s Hospital in Enid, Oklahoma and Artesia Memorial Hospital in Artesia, New Mexico. She ministered as a physical therapist in St. Francis Hospital in Carlsbad, New Mexico and in the Enid public schools. She later returned to St. Mary’s in Enid as a physical therapist, also serving there in public relations, as a home health physical therapist, emergency room nurse and a volunteer to shut-ins.
Before retiring to the Wichita Center, she spent another 16 years at St. Mary’s Hospital in Enid as a volunteer.