WOODSIDE — Nicole Healy met Florence Maloney in 2007 when she saw a notice in the bulletin at her church, St. Sebastian Church in Woodside, about a program called “Forgive and Set Free” that helped women cope after experiencing the trauma of abortion.

She called the phone number listed in the bulletin and offered herself as a volunteer. The kind voice on the other end of the phone belonged to Maloney, the program coordinator, who welcomed her offer of help and invited her to join. “It was amazing being part of the healing process of women who had been
wounded so much,” Healy recalled.

Soon, Maloney encouraged her to become even more involved in the pro-life movement— praying outside abortion clinics and volunteering at organizations like Bridge to Life and the Life Center of Brooklyn and assisting the Sisters of Life in their ministry — and Healy is continuing that work today.

Healy isn’t the only person who joined the pro-life fight because of Maloney. Maloney, who passed away on Jan. 28 at age 97, encouraged generations of people to join the movement.

“Her devotion was like none I had ever seen. Her unwavering dedication to saving babies is something that will stick with me for the rest of my life,” Healy said.
Maloney spent decades in education, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and college professor. She also made her mark in pro-life movement
in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, she was instrumental in establishing the Joint Parish Respect For Life Committee, a group
made up of parishioners from 16 churches in Queens that met monthly to spread the Catholic Church’s pro-life message.

Maloney, a member of the New York State Pro-Life Committee, founded Rachel’s Helpers, a ministry associated with the group Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, that provides support and counseling to women who have had abortions.

Rachel’s Helpers was named after Rachel, who is described in the Old Testament as having wept for her children as they were taken into captivity. “Florence inspired so many people through her post-abortion counseling,” said Cathy Donohoe, president of The Bridge Center for Women (formerly known as the Bridge to Life).

“She always encouraged those of us in the pro-life movement to stay strong. It is not easy being a pro-life supporter in this society,” Donohoe added. Maloney was a strong supporter of The Bridge Center for Women and would often donate cribs, baby blankets and other supplies for the center to distribute to mothers.

“Florence was a pioneer for the pro-life movement. She invigorated so many people to carry on the pro-life fight,” said Madeleine Palumbo-Santangelo, a friend who met Maloney in the mid-1970s through her involvement in the Joint Parish Respect For Life Committee.

Maloney wasn’t just a leader in the pro-life fight. She was a foot soldier, too. Healy remembered going with her to abortion clinics where Maloney would stand outside, pray the rosary and try to encourage women to choose life for their babies.

Palumbo-Santangelo recalled how Maloney would hand out prayer cards outside abortion facilities. “We met there every Saturday. Florence encouraged everyone to take part,” she said.

In recognition of her many years of advocacy, Maloney was inducted into the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Pro-Life Hall of Fame.