Florence Henderson Dead at 82

What a terrible year. Florence Henderson, the cheery actress who brought smiles to our faces as matriarch Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch, has passed away at 82. According to her manager, she died surrounded by her close family and friends. The small town girl from Dale, Indiana, first shot to fame on Broadway, appearing in a number of acclaimed musicals—including Fanny. She was a paragon of wholesomeness as The Brady Bunch’s Carol Brady, playing a mother to six children. The role, which she lasted for five seasons and 117 episodes, hit close to home for Henderson, who was herself the youngest of ten children. Though it never achieved high ratings, it’s since become a celebrated piece of Americana. Henderson is survived by her four children.