A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated for Sister Francine Fontana, OSF, on Nov. 25 at Mother of Perpetual Help Residence on the Campus of Cardinal Ritter Senior Services in Shrewsbury. A resident at Mary Queen and Mother, Sister Francine died Nov. 18 at the age of 96. She was a beloved member of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for 76 years.
She was born to Francesca and Guiliano Fontana, Italian immigrants who settled in Monroe, Louisiana, and was named Mary Antonia. Growing up in a large Catholic family, her faith and desire to serve God was nurtured by her family and instrumental in leading her to religious life.
On Sept. 2, 1946, Sister Francine and her twin sister entered the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. At the time, they were unaware of the significance of their entrance, as Sister Francine and her twin would be the first non-Polish candidates to enter the order. Sister Francine and her sister pronounced final vows on Aug. 12, 1952.
Sister Francine’s desire to serve God compelled her to become a Catholic school educator, earning a bachelor’s degree in education from Webster College and later, a master’s in administration from Saint Louis University. She ministered to students in grades first through eighth as a teacher and principal for nearly 40 years.
Always eager to learn new skills, Sister Francine also earned a library science certification from Northeast Louisiana University.
Her leadership qualities were acknowledged by her community. She served her community directly as a member of its leadership team and as local leader at various convents across the Midwest and South.
In her retirement, she continued to enjoy arts and crafts and had a ready smile to greet everyone she met. Throughout her ministry, Sister Francine served in her own quiet way joyfully and without reservation. This was evidenced when Sister Francine received the Cardinal Rigali Service Award in 2010 for her selfless work with the retired priests at Regina Cleri.
Her faithfulness to God’s call to religious life can be summed up in her own words: “My first interest is to love God with all my being through daily words and deeds.”
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.
