Sister Francis Cleary

Cleary, Sr. Francis, SNJM ALBANY Sister Francis Cleary, SNJM, 92, died on November 3, 2007, at St. Peter's Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Albany. Born in Savannah, Ga., on October 6, 1915, the daughter of the late Frank and Sarah Cleary, she was baptized Lois Katherine. In July 2007, Sister Francis celebrated the 75th anniversary of her entry, at age 16, into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. Her religious name was Sister Francis of the Eucharist. Sister Francis earned her bachelor's degree in English from the University of Tampa and a master's degree in religious education from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. Sister served as teacher or as principal in schools in various places Hochelaga, Canada; Silver Spring, Md.; Tampa, Fla.; Clearwater, Fla.; and in Lesotho, South Africa. In 1957, she returned to N.Y. from Africa, serving as director of novices for nine years and then as provincial director from 1969 to 1975. In her educational ministries, as well as in her community relationships, Sister Francis was ever a loving, compassionate, and healing presence. In her latter years, she felt privileged to be associated with pastoral work at St. John's Church and at the Barnwell Health Care Facility in Valatie, N.Y. Sister Francis is survived by a nephew, Joseph Melendi, of St. Petersburg Beach, Fla., and by two nieces, Barbara Ann Melendi, also from St. Petersburg Beach, and Terry Valdez of Tampa, Fla., and by their families her many great and great-great-nieces and nephews; many others, friends, pupils, and colleagues, especially her close friend of 60 years, Sister Carol Ryan, join Sister Francis' loving community, the Sisters of the Holy Names, in mourning her passing and celebrating her well-lived life. The Sisters of the Holy Names wish to express gratitude for the care given Sister Francis by many in the medical profession: the staffs of the former Child's Nursing Home and Eddy Health Home Care, and, more recently, the Community Hospice Program, Evercare Program, and devoted caregivers at St. Peter's Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A prayer service of remembrance will be held for Sister Francis at St. Joseph's Chapel, Holy Names Campus, 1061 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, on Thursday, November 8, at 4:00 p.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 5:00. Those who wish to remember Sister Francis in that way may send contributions to Sisters of the Holy Names, 258 Partridge Street, Albany, NY 12208.