Florence Henderson played the iconic character Carol Brady on the hit show The Brady Bunch from the years 1969 to 1974. She was loved by all who met her, including her Brady family, who remembered her life at a memorial service in Los Angeles.
Florence Henderson passed away from heart failure this past November at a hospital in Los Angeles. At the time of her passing, the star was surrounded by many of her close family and friends, but her Brady family was missing. The stars of the show decided to get together for a mini reunion to remember the life of Florence Henderson.
The Brady Bunch family reunion included Maureen McCormick, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, and Susan Olsen. McCormick who played Marcia, Knight (Peter), Lookinland (Bobby), and Susan (Cindy) decided to get together to share photos of Florence, to try to immortalize how amazing of a person she was onscreen and in real life.
The other children, Barry Williams who played Greg Brady, and Eve Plumb who played Jan Brady were not in attendance, even though they have both said they were close to Florence. It is actually rumored, although not proved, that Barry Williams and Florence Henderson had a secret affair.
Pictures from the event showed everyone having a great time, drinking and laughing, instead of mourning the loss of Henderson. Maureen McCormick stated, “Most beautiful evening with family and friends celebrating our beloved Florence,” as the caption to a photo she shared on social media from the evening. This is said to have been the desire of Florence, who wanted people to enjoy her life, not cry because it was over.
Other iconic women from The Brady Bunch era also decided to show up to pay their respect to the famous mother. Marion Ross, who played the matriarch Marion Cunningham on the show, Happy Days was also in attendance. Ross knew Henderson from appearing as a cameo guest on The Brady Bunch back while it was still in production.
Florence Henderson’s memorial is a testament to how much Henderson was involved with her coworker’s lives and how much she considered them family.
Months before her death, Henderson appeared on Dancing With The Stars to dance in a sketch routine in which contestant and former costar Maureen McCormick was performing in. McCormick stated that only a few days before her death, Florence Henderson was in the crowd cheering on her former Brady Bunch daughter. This proves that not only was the actress dedicated to making an impact on screen but that she also wanted to involve herself in everyone’s lives. Henderson was known as a mother through and through.
McCormick made a statement to People magazine by saying, “She’ll be remembered as a real class act — someone with so much talent. She just brought a smile to everyone’s heart. She made people feel good. She will be loved forever. She was just so humble, so kind. She will live on forever in everyone’s hearts all over the world.”
Florence Henderson was loved so much, even up to her time of death. She will always be remembered as a loving television and real life mother.
