Kelly, Florence Helena

• Sister Florence Kelly, SOS

Born 5 September 1920 in Windsor, Ontario, daughter of Edward Kelly and Emma Fischer; entered 2 August 1942; first vows 2 February 1945; final vows 2 February 1950; died 11 January 1999.

Although Florence was born in Windsor, her family moved just before the Depression to the family farm near Chepstow in southwestern Ontario. After attending the local school in Chepstow, completing Grade 10, Florence remained on the farm before moving to Kitchener, where she worked as a glove maker. In joining Young Ladies Sodality at St. Mary’s parish, she met Bernice Anstett, with whom she entered the Sisters of Service on August 2, 1942, professed first vows on February 2, 1945 and final vows on February 2, 1950.

Sister Kelly was assigned to the Montreal women’s residence in Montreal (1945-1947 and 1950-1951) and to the Toronto residence (February-August 1947). Between the residence appointments, she joined the teaching mission of Christian Island, Ontario (1947-1949) and prepared for final vows at the Motherhouse (1949-1950). However it was at Pier 21 (1951-1955), the port immigration centre in Halifax where Sister Kelly flourished, in part due to her fluency in German. With Sister Josephine Dulaska, she welcomed and aided hundreds of newly-arrived European immigrants.

On a third assignment at the women’s residence in Montreal (1955-1962), Sister Kelly also continued to welcome and assist immigrants at the port and the railway stations. In moving to Edmonton, she joined the newly-opened Catholic Immigrant Services (1962-1968) in the refugee program of the Catholic Charities of Edmonton.
At a prayer service sponsored by the Edmonton and District Council of churches, Sister Kelly as the sole woman participant read the first lesson. During that time, she also studied social work on a part-time basis at the University of Alberta and earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Windsor in 1969. Her studies continued at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS, graduating in 1971 with a masters of arts degree in adult education. These academic credentials were used as program director (1971-1973) at the Winnipeg residence until its closing. Parish ministry followed as pastoral assistant in St. Anne’s parish (1973-1974) in Penticton, BC. While caring for her mother at home (1975-1977) in Chepstow, she assisted at St. John’s parish in Kitchener, Ontario, and at a local hospital as a chaplain.

Following her mother’s death, Sister Kelly was appointed as Director of the Daly Centre (1978-1984), shepherding the increased use of the Home Religion Program. For two years at the National Office of Religious Education in Ottawa (1984-1986), Sister Kelly supervised the transfer of the Home Religion Program from Regina to the offices of the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops in Ottawa. She also worked on a catechetical team in preparing the new series of Born of the Spirit. Back in Regina (1986-1994), she was appointed as co-ordinator of catechetics for the Archdiocese of Regina for two years, and director of pastoral services (1990-1994). As the first woman to the archdiocesan administration, Sister Kelly oversaw the various departments of the archdiocese with its 123,000 Catholics, 177 parishes and missions as well as acting as ombudsman to the archbishop. In addition to a special relationship with pastoral health care workers, she assisted and planned with the different departments the improvement of the diocesan, deanery and parish services.

For the Sisters of Service, she was elected to three successive General Councils (1974-1978; 1978-1982 and 1982-1986). During that time, the council guided the redrafting of the SOS constitution and bylaws to adjust to the renewal of the Second Vatican Council. Upon returning from Regina, Sister Kelly was appointed as treasurer (1994-1998) of the community.

After several years of living with cancer, Sister Kelly died in Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, on January 11, 1999 at the age of 78. A funeral mass was celebrated in the Motherhouse chapel followed by the Liturgy of the Word in the Rosar-Morrison funeral home. Her body was buried in the community's plot at Mount Hope cemetery, Toronto.

Created by F Rousselle July 11, 2025.
Revised by F Rousselle July 15, 2025.

Biographical sketch adapted for brevity from complete biography written by SOS congregational archivist MC Havey.