Florence Mary Hermesch, 82, of Rogersville, MO, went to be with our Lord at 8:07 AM, Monday, August 22, 2011 with her family surrounding her.

She was born April 15, 1929, in Nemaha County, KS, the daughter of the late Frank and Elizabeth (Steinlage) Niehues. She was united in marriage on October 5, 1949 in Kelly, KS to Lambert August Hermesch. They enjoyed 52 years of marriage before Lambert went home to heaven on June 30, 2002. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Carla Hermesch on August 12, 1997; a brother Herbert Niehues; and three sisters, Bernadine, Rita and Anita Niehues.

Florence graduated from Kelly High School in Kelly, KS, went on to secretarial school and worked at the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, MO. Her love for her future husband led her and Lambert to be married October 5, 1949.

Then Florence began her true desire and vocation — devoted wife, loving mother and homemaker. Her deep faith and her love for family deepened and continued to grow through the years. It was made evident by her tremendously strong support for her husband in their large farming operation, cooking for multiple hired hands, gardening and canning for her family and helping all of her children immensely in their education process. Later in her life as her health started to fail, her quiet enduring faith in God blossomed even more. Her bible study group, the staff at her assisted living place and at the nursing home where she lived previously continually commented about her gentle, kind and compassionate spirit, her unshakeable faith in God and her deep love for her family and friends.

She is survived by a son, Jim Hermesch (Laurie) of Topeka, KS; five daughters, Marlene Prosser (Ernie) of Grantville, KS, Anita Hermesch of Irvine, CA, Francie Bunch (Doug) of Rogersville, MO, Joyce Hamza (Nashwan) of Monterey, CA, and Alice Cornelison (Jeff) of Rogersville, MO; a brother, Ferdy Niehues; two sisters, Norbetine Miller and Frances Rottinghaus; 26 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11 AM Friday, August 26, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, in Springfield, MO under direction of J.D. Lee and Sons Funeral Home of Rogersville. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 PM Thursday, August 25, with a rosary following at 7 PM, in the Rogersville funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3 PM Saturday, August 27, at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly, KS by Father Bala. She will lie in state at church for one hour before the Mass. Burial will be in St. Bede’s Cemetery. Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, KS is handling the Kansas arrangements.

Memorial donations may be given for Right To Life of Kansas, Inc., P.O. Box 4812, Topeka, KS 66604.

The funeral home in Rogersville is hosting an online condolence page at www.jdleeandsons.com.