A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Florence Edward Kearney, D.C., was celebrated Feb. 26, 2013, at the DePaul House Chapel in Albany, N.Y. Burial followed at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, N.Y.
Sister Florence Edward died Feb. 19, 2013 at 81 years of age at the Daughters of Charity senior care residence, St. Louise House, in Albany, N.Y. In June of 2012, she celebrated 60 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., on Aug. 5, 1931, Sister Florence Edward was the daughter of Edward B. and Florence R. (O’Brien) Kearney. She was one of three children. Sister was named Jane Therese Kearney at birth. After attending high school under the tutelage of the Ursuline nuns in New Rochelle, N.Y., she entered St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, Md., where she first met the Daughters of Charity.
Sister Florence Edward entered the Community of the Daughters of Charity in June of 1952. Sister taught English at Seton High School in Baltimore, Md. (1953 – 1957); at Bishop England High School in Charleston, S.C. (1957 – 1961); and at Cardinal McCloskey High School in Albany, N.Y. (1961 – 1975). She then earned her master’s degree in literature from The Catholic University of American in Washington, D.C. She also earned an advance professional certificate in business administration from New York University, New York, N.Y., and a certificate from the Institute for Not for Profit Management at Columbia University, New York, N.Y. These helped to prepare Sister Florence Edward for a new role in human services.
As administrator of Astor Child Guidance Center, in the Bronx, N.Y., a part of the Astor Home for Children in Rhinebeck, N.Y. (1976 – 1984), Sister Florence Edward moved programs out of two store fronts into a newly constructed building and saw programs expand to meet the needs of children and families. In 1984, Sister was named the associate director for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Metuchen; in 1986, she was named the executive director. Under her direction and guidance, programs for needy families, single mothers and children were expanded because of successful grant writing. During Sister’s nearly 16-year tenure at Catholic Charities, Catholic Charities expanded to 29 sites in four counties with about 600 employees.
In 2001, Sister Florence Edward moved to St. Louise House in Albany, N.Y., as Sister Servant for the elderly and infirm Sisters. Through the years, Sister Florence Edward served on many boards of trustees and received awards for teaching, service to children, the Community Service Award from the Diocese of Metuchen, and the Pro Ecclesia et Pro Pontifice Medal from the Pope.
Sister Florence Edward is survived by her brother, Edward, of Ponte Verde, Fla., her sister-in-law, Grace; her sister-in-law Jane; 11 nieces and nephews; and 15 grand-nieces and -nephews.