Date of Birth:
Wednesday, February 7, 1945
Date of Death:
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Age:
80 years old

Florence Patricia Rossman

Florence Patricia Rossman, 80, died Tuesday July 22, 2025 in Rochester Minnesota. She was born in Sewell, Chile on February 7, 1945.

Florence was the third child born to Mark Rossman, a supervisor at the local copper mine, and Florence Teresa Rossman (Blee), a former teacher. Born with spina bifida, the family decided to relocate back to the states to a farm south of Douglas, Minnesota, luckily near the Mayo Clinic. There, Florence underwent several surgeries growing up to improve her physical abilities. What physical limitations she had, she made up for in academics. Florence graduated from Lourdes High School in 1963. She attended Rochester Community College for 2 years, then left the farm to attend St Cloud State University earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in childhood education.  She gained employment as a professor at Wheelock College in Boston, MA where she also achieved her doctorate in Education and remained teaching there for 29 years. During this time, she also obtained a law degree from Boston College. Her summers were often spent traveling the world where she gained an appreciation for people of all cultures. She enjoyed art and took art classes in Florence, Italy to hone her knowledge of the Masters. She always enjoyed celebrations, especially when she returned home to Minnesota for Christmas break to spend time with family. In 2007, she moved back to Rochester to be closer to family. She was often seen touring downtown Rochester on her mobility scooter wearing one of her many hats and chatting with people. She was one of the longest survivors of spina bifida; a testament to what modern medicine and personal grit can attain.

She is survived by her brother, James (Brenda) Rossman, sister-in-law Kristine Rossman, nephews Mark (Diane) Nagy, Tony (Michelle) Rossman and nieces Melissa (Carlos) Galdamez, Cathy (Chad) McDonald, and Sarah (Ryan) Gilgenbach.

She is preceded in death by her younger brother, David Rossman, older sister Mary and husband Charles Nagy, and nephew Benjamin Rossman.

Florence’s Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00am Saturday August 9^th, 2025, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Byron, MN. A visitation will be held at the church beginning at 10:00am. Burial will be at Calvery Cemetery, Rochester MN.

Memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic Hospice.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com