SISTER FRANCES SCHIER

1927 - 2015

Sister Frances Schier O.P. (formerly Sister Leo Marie) of the Dominican Sisters of Hope died on Nov. 25, 2015, in Caldwell, N.J., at the St. Catherine of Siena Convent. She was 87 years of age. Visitation will be on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the chapel of St. Catherine of Siena Health Care Facility, 7 Ryerson Ave., Caldwell, N.J. A viewing will be held from 9:15 a.m. until the wake service at 10:15 a.m. The Mass of Resurrection will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the Dominican Sisters of Hope Cemetery in Newburgh, N.Y. The daughter of the late Leo John and Sarah Scanlon Schier, Sister Frances was born on Dec. 20, 1927, in Jersey City, N.J. She entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh on Sept. 7, 1944, made her first profession on June 24, 1946, and final profession on Aug. 25, 1949. She earned her B.A. in history from Seton Hall University and her M.A. in history from Catholic University. She also participated in the Religious Leaders Program at the University of Notre Dame. Sister Frances enjoyed many years of service to God's people, first in the field of education and later in pastoral ministry. She began her teaching ministry at St. Rose of Lima School in Haddon Heights, N.J. (1946-1953) and then taught at Saints John and Paul School in Larchmont, N.Y. (1953-1959). From there, Sister went to Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester, N.J., where she taught history (1959-1961). Leaving Gloucester, Sister Frances studied at Catholic University in Washington and lived at the Dominican House of Studies (1961-1963). She came back to the south Jersey area as principal of St. Joan of Arc School in Camden, N.J. (1963-1967). From 1967 to 1969, she taught history at Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic, N.J. Once again, her administrative skills were used when she was called upon to be associate superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Newark for Hudson County (1978- 1982), then as principal of St. John and Paul School in Larchmont (1982-1984). Having spent most of her years in education, in 1984 Sister felt called to study at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana in preparation for a new ministry as a pastoral associate. From 1985 to 2001, she worked as pastoral associate at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. Sr. Frances retired in 2001 and lived first at Ascension Convent in Milford, N.J., and then at Paramus Catholic High School Convent in Paramus, N.J. In the last three years, she first lived at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville, N.J. (2012-2013) and finally at St. Catherine of Siena Convent in Caldwell, N.J. (2013-2015). Sister Frances Schier was predeceased by her two brothers, Walter and Leo Schier. She is survived by her nieces, Fay Rutka, Susan Schier Noto, Jane Schier, Christine Schier, and grandnieces and grandnephews. Donations in Sister Frances' memory can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Hope Development Office, 299 Highland Ave., Ossining, N.Y. 10562-2327.