Florence Abbie Eifert

Florence Abbie Eifert of Mason,
Passed away November 29, 2024, at the age of 96. Florence was born in Leicester, Massachusetts on August 6, 1928, the daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Tucker) Rabidou. She met her husband on a blind date set up by mutual friends and they were married in 1947. Together they had 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls, Nancy, Larry, Mark, Joy, Keith, and Paul. In a conversation on her birthday last August, she told her son Mark that the best thing she did in her life was raise him and his brothers and sisters. In high school, Florence performed in a girls Drum and Bugle Corps and studied cosmetology. She gave hair perms to neighborhood women in the Eifert's kitchen. After all her children graduated from high school, she worked several retail jobs and worked for a short time as a realtor. An avid gardener and landscaper, Florence gave flowers to neighbors and friends in times of duress. Before recycling became "a thing," Florence embraced the philosophy of "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Her husband Gerald Eifert (Jerry) was a dairy farmer who worked seven days a week while Florence ran the household. She was a master juggler taking care of children of a wide range of ages all at once. In the summers, she took all her kids to the beach and in the colder months, they went to Saturday matinees at theaters in Lansing. On Sunday afternoons, she planned family excursions to museums, scenic drives to old, covered bridges, and visits to family and friends. Eating out was a rare occasion as she cooked nearly all the meals. Florence delivered Meals on Wheels for over 25 years. She was a founding member of St. James Catholic Church and a member of the Altar Society in Mason, Michigan. Florence was active in the Mason Seniors and looked forward to the weekly meetings and the various outings with her peers. She was the last surviving member of her group of friends.
Florence is survived by her children, Nancy (David) Ferguson, Larry (Debbie) Eifert, Mark (Jane Wilcox) Eifert, Joy (Rob) Kerr, Keith (Pam) Eifert, Paul (Linnea) Eifert; sisters, Eva Hurd, Joy (Karl) Putnam; 22 grandchildren, several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald Eifert; son, Raymond Eifert; grandson, Brad Eifert; as well as 6 brothers.
A Memorial Mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church of Mason on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 11:00am with visitation one hour prior. A Rosary will be held at 6:00pm with a visitation following on December 11, 2024, at the church. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to St. James Catholic Church of Mason or a charity of your choice in loving memory of Florence Abbie Eifert. To leave condolences for the family, visit our website www.millsfuneral.com.