The Province is mourning the recent passing of four friars and five Franciscan sisters.
► Br. Joseph Haley, OFM, 75, a member of St. John the Baptist Province, died on Feb. 26 in Cincinnati. The Dayton, Ohio, native, known for his impeccable attention to detail, had spent most of his religious life in business and accounting work. He was preparing to celebrate his 50th year as a friar at the time of his death.
► Sr. Marie McTarnaghan, OSF, 86, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, died on March 9. She served as an administrator and teacher at several Cathoplic schools in Western New York for nearly 40 years. She also served in variouspositions of the congregation, including director of novices and in community service and prayer ministry at the motherhouse several Catholic schools in Western New York for nearly 40 years. She also served in various positions of the congregation.
► Sr. Kathleen Doyle, FSP, died at St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., on March 13. The Queens, N.Y., native was 91 years old. She received a master’s degree in English from St. Bonaventure University and spent her entire professed life in education and health ministries, assigned to dozens of schools and health care facilities.
► Sr. M. Frances (Theophane) Jacko, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis of the United States Province, died on March 17 in Pittsburgh, Pa., at the age of 93. She was in her 76th year of profession, which began as a missionary in the congregation’s first mission in South America. She spent many years as an educator, mostly on the elementary school level, and was renowned for her ceramics and sewing.
► Fr. Emeric Nordmeyer, OFM, 91, of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, died on March 15 in Albuquerque, N.M. He was the oldest member of OLG Province. The Batesville, Indiana, native, who served a brief stint in the U.S. Navy before entering religious vocation, spent a lifetime in mission work in the Southwest. Funeral services were held on March 21.
► Fr. Canice Connors, OFM Conv., 84, died on March 17. During more than 60 years in religious life, he served as provincial minister of the Immaculate Conception Province, and as vice-president, president and board member of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, as well as director of Saint Luke’s Institute in Silver Spring, Md.
► Sr. Georgellen Brilmyer, 95, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, died on March 20 at the congregation’s retirement residence, Assisi House, in Aston, Pa., where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death. The Washington, D.C., native ministered primarily in education, a collective 66 years in the dioceses of Philadelphia, Orlando, Fla., and Wilmington, Del.
► Sr. Marie Beha, OSC, died on March 20 at the Poor Clare Monastery in Travelers Rest, S.C. She was 92. She was a Joilet Franciscan for 30 years, serving as a high school teacher and college philosophy professor, before joining the Poor Clares in 1972 for a more cloistered and prayerful life. She also served as formation director for the Poor Clares.
► Br. Stephen Richter, OFM, a member of St. John the Baptist Province, died on March 23 in Cincinnati. He was 85 years old and was preparing to celebrate his 60th anniversary as a friar this year. A Mass of Christian Burial is being celebrated on March 27.
Editor’s note: Each month, HNP Today publishes news of the deaths of Franciscan brothers, priests and sisters. Information should be emailed to the HNP Communications Office. Announcements about deaths in the United States can also be found on the USFranciscans website.
– Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas
Related Links
- “Deaths in Franciscan Communities” – Feb. 20, 2019, HNP Today
- “Province Extends Sympathy to Families of Deceased” – March 13, 2019, HNP Today