You’ve probably seen the video. A tiny, energetic woman in scrubs, surrounded by cheering coworkers, wearing a sash that says "90 and Fabulous." That woman is Florence "SeeSee" Rigney. For years, she was a fixture in the operating rooms of Tacoma General Hospital, outlasting surgeons, administrators, and even entire medical eras. But given she was born back in 1925, it’s only natural that people are constantly searching: is Florence Rigney still alive?
The short answer? Yes. As of early 2026, SeeSee Rigney is 100 years old.
Honestly, it’s a milestone most people didn't think she’d just "reach"—they expected her to sprint across the finish line. This is a woman who, at 96, was still logging three miles a day on her Fitbit while prepping surgical suites. She didn't just witness history; she worked through it. When she started nursing, penicillin was the "new" thing. Think about that.
The Retirement That Didn't Stick (Twice)
People keep asking about her status because she became a bit of a legend for "un-retiring." It’s kinda her thing.
Back in 1990, when SeeSee turned 65, she did what most people do. She filed the paperwork, turned in her badge, and went home to relax. That lasted exactly six months. She told anyone who would listen that she simply "didn’t like to sit around." Her nature is to move.
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So, she went back to MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital. She didn't just come back for a few months to help out; she stayed for another three decades.
It wasn’t until July 16, 2021, that she officially hung up the scrubs for good. At 96 years old, she was recognized as the oldest working nurse in the United States. The decision to retire then wasn't because she lost her spark. It was the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. The risks of being in a hospital environment at nearly a century old became a daily gamble that her family and the hospital administration finally decided wasn't worth taking.
Why the Internet Thinks She’s Gone
There’s always a bit of confusion online. If you search is Florence Rigney still alive, you might run into old obituaries for other women named Florence Rigney—it’s not exactly an uncommon name for that generation.
But the "SeeSee" we all know is still here.
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Since her 2021 retirement, she has shifted her focus to her family and her two children. The hospital she served for seven decades even set up the SeeSee Rigney Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund in her honor. It’s a way to keep her legacy alive while she enjoys the quiet life she avoided for so long.
A Career by the Numbers
- Total Years in Nursing: Over 70.
- Retirement Age: 96.
- Daily Steps at 91: 2 to 3 miles per shift.
- Start Date: 1946.
What Keep Her Going?
SeeSee’s longevity is a bit of a medical marvel itself. She often joked that her "Polish heritage" gave her the stamina to keep up with nurses a quarter of her age. But honestly, it was more than that.
She lived through the death of two husbands and the loss of a son. Many people would have retreated after that kind of heartbreak. SeeSee did the opposite. She treated the hospital like her second family. The operating room wasn't just a workplace; it was where she felt most useful.
She’s always had a "never stop learning" mantra. Even when hospitals switched to digital records and complex computer systems—things that make most 90-year-olds want to throw a laptop out the window—she sat through the classes. She learned the tech. She kept her license active.
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SeeSee's Current Life in 2026
At 100, SeeSee isn't doing 10-hour shifts anymore, but she hasn't disappeared. She remains in the Tacoma, Washington area. While she isn't in the public eye as much as she was during her "viral" years between 2015 and 2021, she remains a local icon.
The most recent updates from those close to her suggest she is enjoying a much-deserved rest, though knowing SeeSee, "rest" probably involves more movement than it does for the rest of us.
If you're looking for lessons from her life, it’s not just about staying alive; it’s about staying relevant. She didn't let the world pass her by. She didn't let "age-appropriate" behaviors dictate her schedule.
Actionable Takeaways from SeeSee’s Legacy
You don't have to work until you're 96 to capture some of that SeeSee Rigney magic. Here is how you can apply her "100-year-old" logic to your own life:
- Move Every Single Day: She didn't go to the gym; she just never sat down. Find ways to incorporate natural movement into your workday.
- Stay Teachable: The moment SeeSee decided she knew everything was the moment she would have actually had to retire. Stay open to new technology and new ways of doing things, regardless of your "seniority."
- Find Your "Why": She loved patients. That's it. If you have a core mission, the "work" part of your job feels a lot less like a grind.
- Don't Fear Change: She saw medicine go from primitive tools to robotic surgery. She didn't complain that the "old ways were better." She adapted.
SeeSee Rigney is a living testament to the idea that age is a number, but "busy" is a choice. As of now, she’s still with us, likely watching the next generation of nurses take over the halls she walked for 70 years.
To honor her legacy, consider donating to a nursing scholarship or simply thanking a veteran nurse next time you’re in a clinical setting. They’ve seen more than you know.