DUE TO THE BLIZZARD THE MASS HAS BEEN POSTPONED

AND CALLING HOURS HAVE CHANGED TO 1-3 p.m. MONDAY

JANUARY 26th

Sister Frances Markham (Mother Mary Hildegarde) died on January 22, 2015 at St. Patrick's Manor after a short illness.  She was 94 years of age and had been a Sister of the Good Shepherd for 72 years. Sister Frances was born in Proctor, VT in 1920, the daughter of John Edward and Eloise Marie (Hinds) Markham.  Sister graduated the Proctor Public Schools and then attended St. Joseph's College where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics.  Sister also earned a Master of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut.     In 1942, Sister Frances entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Peekskill, NY where she received her formal training in the mission of the Sisters.  Sister made her first vows in 1945, and pronounced her final vows in 1948. Sister was missioned to Hartford, CT and worked with the girls in the Marian Hall residence.  She then became Director of Euphrasia Hall in Hartford, CT. In 1955 Sister Frances was missioned to Mt. Florence, Peekskill, NY and was named Provincial Superior of the New York Province.  She served as Province Leader until 1965.  Sister then served as local Community Leader in Springfield, MA in 1965 and Community Leader at Mt. Florence, Peekskill, NY in 1970.

Sister was also a Social Worker at St. Anne Institute in Albany, NY and later Principal of Mary Immaculate Junior-Senior High School at Madonna Hall in Marlborough, MA. In 1985 Sister returned to Albany. NY and did Parish Ministry at St. Francis de Sales Church.  In 1988 Sister Frances joined the hospital Chaplaincy program at Memorial Hospital in Albany, NY where she lovingly served the sick and dying for 23 years. Sister Frances retired to Good Shepherd Center in 2011 then to St. Patrick's Manor in 2013. Sister was a forward looking Province Leader and the Sisters of the Province will always be grateful to her for encouraging them to further their education in the service of our Good Shepherd charism and mission. Sister Frances is survived by her brother, John Markham of Vero Beach, Fl, his son, Sean Markham and his wife Melissa of Atlanta, GA , his daughter, Teresa Norconk and her husband James of Vero Beach, Fl and several nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. for Sister Frances Markham at Good Shepherd Center, 406 Hemenway Street, Marlborough.  Visiting hours at Good Shepherd Center will be held Monday, January 25, 2015 from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m.  Burial will be in Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury, MA. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home ( www.CollinsFuneral.com ), 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.  Expressions of sympathy in honor of Sister Frances Markham may be made to the Good Shepherd Retirement Fund, 406 Hemenway Street, Marlborough, MA 01752.

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd, a worldwide congregation, was founded in France by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier in 1835, in Boston in 1867 and in Marlborough in 19 64.