A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Francis Marie Lanasa, D.C., was celebrated Jan. 22, 2016, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Emmitsburg. Sister Francis Marie died Jan. 16, 2016, at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg. She was 93 years of age and 69 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Baltimore, Md., May 19, 1922, Sister Francis Marie (baptized Mary Margaret) was one of 12 children born to Francis Joseph and Marie Olga (Brady) Lanasa. Sister graduated from Seton High School in Baltimore in 1941 and entered the Daughters of Charity in April 1946.
Sister Francis Marie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, in 1969.
After initial formation, Sister Francis Marie served at St. Vincent Home in Lansdowne, Pa. (1947 to 1949); St. Paul School in Portsmouth, Va. (1949 to 1956); St. Catherine Labouré School in Harrisburg, Pa. (1956 to 1959); Miraculous Medal School in Greensboro, N.C. (1959); St. Joseph’s Villa in Richmond, Va. (1959 to 1961); St. Mary’s School in Troy, N.Y. (1961 to 1963); St. Joseph’s School of Religion, Oneida, N.Y. (1963 to 1967); St. Michael School, Overlea, Md. (1969 to 1974 and 1982 to 1984); St. Charles School, Pikesville, Md. (1974 to 1977); Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg (1977 to 1982); St. Ann’s Infant Home School in Hyattsville, Md. (1984 to 1986); and St. Dominic School in Baltimore (1986 to 1991). Sister served as a hostess at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg from 1991 to 1992. From 1992 to 1995, she served as a gift shop assistant at the Shrine. Sister Francis Marie joined the Ministry of Prayer in Emmitsburg in 2003 and served there until the time of her death.
Sister Francis Marie was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings. Her sister, Sister Alice Lanasa, D.C., also was a member of the Community of the Daughters of Charity. She died in 2002. Sister is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and her Sisters in Community.