SOUTH BEND -- Florence A. Metzger, 90, of South Bend, died at 12:20 p.m. Friday (March 12, 2010) at The Sanctuary at St. Joseph's of natural causes.

She was born in Minnesota on Aug. 30, 1919, to James and Florence (Gassensmith) Murphy.

She married John H. Metzger June 18, 1955, in Jerseyville, Ill. He died in South Bend in 2002.

She is survived by one daughter, Mary Margaret "Marcy" Metzger of Elkhart; three sons, Michael (Annette) Metzger of Goshen, Joseph (Cheryl) Metzger of Osceola and John Metzger of Big Bar, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister, Mildred Ellis; and special friend, cousin and caregiver, Mercedes Gassensmith of South Bend.

Three brothers, Jay, Pat and Father Joe Murphy; and two sisters, Catherine Kallel and Marie Murphy, are deceased.

She attended high school at the Sacred Heart Academy in Springfield, Ill. She later worked as a legal secretary for many years for several offices, including the Lt. Governor of Illinois and the Illinois Attorney General. She also served as a private secretary for Roy Worden and Assoc. Architectural Offices in South Bend.

She was a member of the Shoe and Slipper Dinner and Dance Club and served as a volunteer at the former Children's Hospital, both in South Bend.

Visitation will be for one hour before the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Bristol. The Rev. Robert Van Kempen of St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Bristol will officiate.

Cremation will follow the services. Billings Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested Mass offerings in Florence's memory to St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church or to SouthernCare Hospice.

Condolences may be sent to the family via www.billingsfuneralhome.com.