Sister Frances "Fran" Kearney

December 19, 1939 - August 19, 2025 Within weeks of a cancer diagnosis, Sister Frances "Fran" Kearney (Sister Thomas Joseph) was called home to God on August 19, 2025. Sister Fran was 85 years old and celebrated 64 years of religious profession as a Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

Sister Fran started her ministerial life with a two-year sojourn in elementary education at Saint Ignatius in Sacramento. For 25 years Fran was a secondary school educator at Saint Andrew (Pasadena), Saint Monica (Saint Monica) and Marin Catholic (Kentfield). Sister Fran's 23 years at Epiphany Center in San Francisco where she served as a primary caregiver for infants, program director, early intervention specialist and Director of Children's Services was a ministry that brought her great joy and blessings. After her retirement from Epiphany Center, her gift of hospitality was brought to the fore welcoming guests to the SNJM Rincon Residence in Campbell, CA.
Her magnetic presence of peace and warmth for her SNJM sisters in times of hospitalization and illness will be forever remembered.

It is said that Sister Fran's love knew no bounds as was also true of her hospitality, connections and networking. In person or virtually, she was able to be truly present and ever so affirming with each person whether it was with her beloved family, SNJM Community, ministry partners, alums, International Solidarity Community, recovery groups, Spiritual Ministry Team and the list goes on and on and on.

We celebrate Sister Fran's deep love of family, her roots with the people and land of Sonoma, her great love of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher and her SNJM community, her willingness to drive any freeway for a gathering, celebration, meeting or funeral and her joy in wearing flip-flops and muumuus.

She was predeceased by her parents, James and Wanda Kearney, and her sisters Sister June Kearney, SNJM, Sister Pat Kearney, OSU and Wyn McCambridge. She is survived by her niece, Anne McCambridge and nephews, Dan McCambridge and Steve McCambridge as well as many other relatives.

Sister Fran's Mass of Resurrection will be on Monday September 15, 2025, at 11:00 am at Saint Mary Church in Los Gatos, California. A reception will follow. In order to help with planning for numbers, please email dwebb@snjmuson.org if you are able to join in the celebration of Sister Fran's life. Her burial will be later. Gifts in her memory may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names: P.O. Box 907, Los Gatos CA 95031-0907 or online at www.snjmuson.org