A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Frances McSherry, D.C. was celebrated February 27, 2017, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Emmitsburg. Sister Frances died February 22, 2017, at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg. She was 95 years of age and 76 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Silver City, N.M., on January 10, 1922, Sister Frances was one of three children born to Thomas and Marie (Jones) McSherry. Sister entered the Daughters of Charity in December 1940.
Sister Frances received her diploma from St. Joseph High School, Emmitsburg, in 1938. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in English from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, in 1948; she earned her Master of Education Degree in Early Childhood Education from Boston University, Boston, in 1949.
Following initial formation, Sister Frances taught at St. Mary School, Greensboro, N.C., (1942 to 1943); St. John’s School, Baltimore, Md., (1943 to 1947); and the Home for Catholic Children in Boston, Mass., (1947 to 1949). Sister next served as Program Director at the Sarah Fisher Home for Children in Farmington, Mich., (1949 to 1958). She taught at the Labouré Center in Boston, (1958 to 1959). Then, Sister Frances served as Program Director at St. Vincent Infant Home, Timonium, Md., (1959 to 1960); St. Catherine’s Infant Home, Albany, N.Y., (1960 to 1961); St. Ann’s Infant Home, Hyattsville, Md., (1961 to 1968); and St. Vincent’s Home and School, Washington, D.C., (1968 to 1975). Sister taught next at St. Vincent’s Center, Washington, D.C., (1975 to 1977); and at St. Mary’s School, Rome, Ga., (1978 to 1979). She then served in Parish Ministry at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Gloverville, S.C., (1979 to 1982). Sister ministered as the Education Director for the Day Care Program at St. Ann’s Infant Home, Hyattsville, (1982 to 1988). Sister once again was missioned to Our Lady of the Valley Parish where she served as Parish Pastoral Minister, (1988 to 1994). Sister served in Bladensburg, Md., with senior citizens, (1994 to 1998). She ministered as Outreach Assistant in Catholic Social Services and St. Ann Neighborhood Youth Center in Fayetteville, N.C., (1998 to 2001). She then served in the Food Pantry at St. Joseph Parish in Petersburg, Va., (2001 to 2003). Sister was missioned to the Ministry of Prayer at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg in 2003. There, for many years, she played the organ for Mass at St. Catherine’s Nursing Center.
Sister Frances was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Rita Gibbons. She is survived by her sister, Roberta Van der Heyden of Arizona; nieces; nephews; and her Sisters in Community.