Sister Francis Mary Clark, CSJ

We come together as a faith community to celebrate the simple and simply beautiful life of Sister Francis Mary Clark, a Sister of St. Joseph for 73 faithful years. I know we are all echoing the sentiment that this day came too soon. A heartfelt welcome to the community here at St. Joseph Convent ~ Francis’ beloved home for the past 3 years.  She would want to thank you, her sisters whom she loved ~ and who loved her.
•She’d offer a huge gentle hug coupled with words of gratitude to the convent staff inclusive of Administration, Pastoral Care, Recreation, Nurses, Aides, PT, Sacristy, Maintenance, CulinArt and Egla, the hairdresser.She valued each of you as you journeyed with her in loving kindness and tender service.
Francis would want a special prayerful thanks voiced to our celebrant, Father Sean Gann. You were held in high esteem and seen by Francis as a “jolly, holy man.”
Our hearts go out to Francis’ long-time friend, Eva Marchese, and to her beloved sisters with whom she shared life in Immaculate Conception ~Mary Ann Connors, Mary Powell, Ruthie McHugh, Margaret Farley and a host of heavenly holy women.

Francis, who was baptized Georgina Frances Clark, was one of two daughters of Frank and Martha. Francis and her sister, Joan grew up in St. Pascal Baylon parish and attended Mary Louis Academy. There was never a doubt in Francis’ mind and heart that her vocation and passionate love of children was fostered by the prayerful lives of the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught her.
After entering, Francis focused wholeheartedly on her ministry of teaching young children, specializing in 1st Graders for 53 years in 11 schools from Brooklyn to Northport to Puerto Rico and a few in between. A letter in her file from a parent exalted Francis’ extraordinary teaching ability, one that laid a foundation for life for the children she taught with God always as the Center.

1986 brought Francis to Immaculate Conception, Jamaica and for the next 34 years, she continued to nurture the hearts and minds of 1st Graders. She later moved into parish ministry and service in Bishop Molloy Retreat House. A true sister of the neighborhood, Francis’ presence and her gentle smile brought serenity to all she met. Always attentive to others’ needs, her listening heart and compassionate deeds, nurtured by her faithful presence at daily Eucharist, were treasured by the parish community.

Francis was also active in our larger community. As part of the CSJ Justice Committee she accompanied persons seeking asylum to Court, and attended rallies for fair housing and immigration reform,

Closer to home, Francis’ faithful relief work at Hampton Bays brought her the distinction of #1 “Cleaner of the Clean.” Her joyful presence working in Joseph’s Closet, alongside her dear companion, Sister Margaret Anella and Anita Collins was the highlight of her life.
Here at the motherhouse, Francis did whatever needed to be done in service to her sisters with great compassion and humility, simply saying, “I did what I could.”

It is no small miracle that God called Francis home as our Church celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Her sacred journey had come full circle in her life of selfless, simple, humble service to the people of God and her CSJ community for 73 memorable years.
We’re now blessed that Sister Karen Cavanagh, who knew Francis well, and who has Immaculate Conception blood flowing through her veins as everyone knows, will share a reflection with us.
S. Tesa Fitzgerald, CSJ

This is a time of thanks, trust, reverence and honor as our Congregation and this community welcomes all of you to this sacred space, to this basilica of a chapel. For more than seventy years (and especially in these past years) it has been a favorite place of reflection, prayer and service for Sister Francis Mary. 

Her name given at her Baptism is Georgina but most of us have continued through the years to know and love her as Francis Mary (the name and patrons given at her reception of the habit as a Sister of Saint Joseph) 

Today we pray with each other and with her family and her “families” who gather here (and on livestream) to remember a woman of great love and commitment. he was so loving and committed to little children and she was a vivid teacher and model for all of us… She lived and who still lives in the presence of God. She lived and died with a profound awareness and trust of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in her life and her ministries. 

Francis was joyful and grateful for all of her ministries and experiences these many years but spoke with special love of her times at Holy Child Jesus and her years at Immaculate Conception. On Monday afternoon I smiled as this year’s feast of the Immaculate Conception moved to Dec 9 and became the glorious feast day when Francis was reunited with her earthly family and now beholds at last the Holy Family … for all eternity. 

Francis journeyed through her life with the Holy Family as she witnessed them in the faces and places where God’s family gathered. We all have our favorite stories and memories where we saw this in her person and felt it in her life… Her years and times in a classroom where she was a tireless teacher par excellence. Her every day in ministry these 70+ years … a loving ministry to little ones, a spirit and care filled presence on faculties, parish committees, worship gatherings, liturgical ministries and outreach to dear neighbors. Where God’s family gathered Francis‘ encouraging and smiling ways were found. Where more vulnerable “dear neighbors” were … there were her hands, her heart and her help. We who knew her might also say that where cleaning or help was needed there were her apron, her ready hands, her scrub brush and soapy water. 

Francis loved her ongoing relationships with those now grown “little ones” and with their families. She loved praying with God’s people, with her community and at those many, many quiet times she spent alone with her God… in Chapel, in her neighborhood and along these Brentwood roads and paths. 

Francis seemed to have a magnetic connection as she listened, supported and offered advice to those with whom she lived, worked and met along life’s way. She brought Jesus into our midst, in the “unassuming, quiet, befriending manner” of Saint Joseph – whose name we bear. She kept her heart and eyes fixed on the person she was with at any given moment, on the love of God and every neighbor without distinction… and on the challenge to proclaim the Gospel at all times… to proclaim it as a warmth, a kindness, a compassion an endearment, an understanding… and to help this Gospel challenge be less burdensome for us or for herself… Frances could always call forth a hug, a smile, a laugh and a promise of prayer. 

Blessed were we. 

Blessed are we. 

Francis, today may you be with Jesus and hear Him speak those words. “Come, “blessed of God”, come, dear one, receive that kindness, that compassion, the everlasting endearment and welcome that you have shown others and that your loving God has prepared for you!” 

And to this let all of us say…. AMEN
S. Karen Cavanagh, CSJ

Sister Francis Mary Clark, CSJ died on December 9, 2024 in the 73rd year of her religious life.