Florence was the third child born to Robert and Martha Hite Chapman of Waverly, Ky. She attended St. Peter Elementary School at Waverly, and enrolled at Mount Saint Joseph Academy for high school. She entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph with the September class of 1924. Florence received the Ursuline habit March 19, 1925 and was given the name Sister Florence Rita.
Sister Florence Rita’s first assignment was St. Columba School in Louisville where she was the kindergarten teacher and church sacristan. She was transferred to St. Denis School at Fancy Farm, Ky., for part of the school year. She returned to St. Columba where she remained until 1944. In addition to the sacristy work and her kindergarten class, Sister Florence Rita also trained the altar boys and mentored the younger Sisters through their first teaching experiences.
In January 1944, Sister Florence Rita was admitted to St. Joseph Infirmary in Louisville. After two months of intense suffering, she died on March 1. The following day her remains were taken to the convent at St. Columba for the wake service and visitation. More than 500 students from St. Columba School were present for the Mass celebrated by the pastor, Father John Abell. Sister Florence Rita’s remains were brought to Mount Saint Joseph for final services. Father Gilbert Henninger, chaplain, celebrated a funeral Mass on March 4, 1944. Five other priests were present in the sanctuary. Sister Florence Rita’s remains were carried in procession to the convent cemetery for burial.