Florence Harding

Author: Patti Kendall, daughter

Florence Harding was born October 21, 1925 to Polish immigrants and lived a portion of her childhood in Acushnet on a farm that was known as the Summerton House.

She moved to Dartmouth in August of 1950 to the home where she still resides after nearly 70 years. There she raised four children and went on to share this home with multiple grandchildren and now great grandchildren. We all feel extremely fortunate that we can still gather at our childhood home and share our family’s history and fondest memories.

She began working at Dartmouth High School in 1997 until the age of 90 when she retired in 2016. One of her primary goals at the school was to retrieve as many aluminum can pull tops to donate to the Shriners who in turn, would sell them to a recycling company. The proceeds collected would be used to fund transportation for children to and from Shriners Hospital. She was inspired to do so after meeting a student who survived a serious car accident suffering severe burns but she always greeted Florence with a smile and maintained a positive outlook. All the students were aware of her mission and would help to collect them for her. She became a popular fixture in the school and was honored by the students when it was announced she would be leaving.

Daffodil Hill is one of Florence’s favorite places in town and she hasn’t missed a season in at least a decade. At the age of 91, she still had the fortitude and determination to climb that hill to appreciate the natural beauty the town shares with the community.

She is admired by all that know her, for her kindness, strength of character and beautiful spirit.