A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Xavier Ballance, D.C., was celebrated August 31, 2016, at Corpus Christi Church in Detroit, Mich. Burial followed at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit. Sister Xavier died August 26, 2016, at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Mich. She was 82 years of age and 59 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, on October 22, 1933, Sister Xavier was the only child born to Leonard G. and Frances (Eckert) Ballance. She was baptized Mary Frances. Sister graduated from Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, in 1951. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo., in 1957, and Sister completed her Master’s in Business Administration Degree with an emphasis in Health Care Administration at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1968.
Following initial formation, Sister Xavier served as Nurse Supervisor at St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospitals, Chicago, Ill., (1959 to 1961); as Nurse Supervisor at Hotel Dieu Hospital, New Orleans, La., (1961 to 1966); as Health Care Administration Resident at Carney Hospital, Boston, Mass., (1967 to 1968); as Administrative Assistant at Seton Health Care Network, Austin, Tex., (1968 to 1970); as Assistant Administrator at Providence Hospital, Mobile, Ala., (1970 to 1972); as Administrator at St. Vincent Hospital, Birmingham, Ala., (1972 to 1975); as Administrator at Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, Southfield, Mich., (1975 to 1986); as Administrator at St. Mary Medical Center, Evansville, Ind., (1986 to 1987); as Provincial Councillor for the former East Central Province (1987 to 1997) and as President and Board Chair of the Daughters of Charity National Health System-East Central Region, Evansville, (1987 to 1998); in Governance at St. John Health System, Detroit, Mich., (1989); as Sponsor Representative for the Daughters of Charity Information Systems, Evansville, (1997 to 1999); as Board Chair of Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, Southfield, (1999 to 2010). In recent years, Sister Xavier served on boards of Advantage Health Care for the Homeless, Covenant House Michigan, St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Center, Detroit Community Initiative, Guest House, Southeast Michigan Hospital Board, and Ascension’s Michigan Market.
Sister Xavier was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by many friends and her Sisters in Community.