Sr. Paula Rose Brown

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Sister Paula Rose Brown, OSF, passed away Monday (Oct. 31, 2016) in St. Petersburg.

She was born Barbara Ann Brown on July 25, 1938, in Steubenville, Ohio, the daughter of Maurice and Pauline Kaufman Nation Brown.

Sister Paula Rose was received into the congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, N.Y., at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse on July 2, 1961, and professed her final religious vows July 2, 1968. Sister Paula Rose devotedly lived the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany for more than 55 years.

She attended grade school at St. Peter's in Steubenville, Ohio, from 1945 to 1951 and St. Joseph's Academy in Lakeland from 1951 to 1953. She graduated from Steubenville Catholic Central High School in 1957. During her early years at St. Joseph's Academy, she came to know and love the Franciscan Sisters, and through that inspirational relationship of love and grace she recognized a deeper need to serve God. Soon after joining the Franciscan Sisters, she began college courses at St. Elizabeth Teacher's College (now part of St. Bonaventure University) in Allegany. Sister received her bachelor's degree in education in 1968.
Sister Paula Rose began her ministry teaching younger students in congregational schools in New Jersey and Florida. In 1970, Sister completed additional training as an X-ray technician and served in the radiology and admissions departments of St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa.

She came to feel great satisfaction in the service of her elderly patients, and this led to her seeking reassignment to an opening at the St. Francis Residence in Tampa, where she served as activity director, chauffeur and lay resident's coordinator until 1988. In subsequent years, she also served as a health aide at the John Knox Retirement Community. This was followed by another year of teaching at St. Joseph's, after which Sister Paula Rose accepted a senior care opening at Canterbury Towers in Tampa, serving as a full-time certified nurse's aide and home health aide through 2000.

Following that assignment, Sister served as an independent caregiver and companion to several area residents. No matter the setting, she was humbled and honored to be of service to the elderly. In later years, Sister continued her service through a volunteer ministry at St. Paul School in St. Petersburg, and in 2011 she became fully retired.

Sister Paula Rose is predeceased by her parents and a brother, John.

She is survived by her nephew, John Brown.

A wake service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 9, 2016) in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany.

The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home Inc., 646 E. State St., Olean, N.Y.

To view her obituary and send condolences, head to www.letromcintoshspink funeralhome.com.