Sister Ann Francis Peach, CSC
(January 8, 1910 - March 19, 2007)
Please, join in prayer of thanksgiving
for this Sister of the Holy Cross who
died on March 14, 2007.
Wake Service: 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 21
Mass and Burial: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 22
In the Church of Our Lady of Loretto
Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements
Sister Ann Francis was born in Granite, MD, to the late Frank Peach and Mary Anna Nelson Peach. She was the third of six children in her family. Sister is predeceased by all her brothers: Francis, William and Thomas; and sisters: Elizabeth and Leonora who became Sister M. Angelita, CSC. She is survived by her sisters-in-law: Dorothy (William) Peach and Betty (Thomas) Peach; nephews: Joseph Flynn and Frank Flynn of MD, Thomas Peach, IL, William Peach, MA; nieces: Georgia Peach, NY and Maryann Elizabeth Simon, IL; cousins: Celestine Finn, MD, and Rev. Lawrence Hunt, SJ, NC. Sister is survived by many friends.
Sister Ann Francis gained her education in Maryland, earned her Bachelor degree from Johns Hopkins University, MD, and Masters degree from Western Reserve University in Ohio. Sister was trained to be a teacher and began her teaching in Washington DC. She taught in Blessed Sacrament School and then moved to the Academy of the Holy Cross and continued in high schools in VA, PA, and NY. She taught in high school for 29 years and was Administrator in high school for 16 years.
Sister retired to Saint Mary’s Convent in 1987, and was active in volunteer services to the Community. In 2001 Sister became active in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Ann Francis was very self-effacing and never took pride in her beautiful sewing and craftwork or her special talent for candy making. Her gift boxes of chocolates were so perfectly prepared they equaled a professional product – they were works of art and delicious. While at Saint Mary’s her candy making talent was much in demand and the sisters looked forward to the treats she would bring them, even making some sugar free for those whose health required this special attention.
Sister Ann Francis was what is commonly called a “born teacher.” She taught both elementary and high school and was a high school principal. Many stories of dealing with the high school girls’ antics often sent the listeners into gales of laughter. For many years she taught night classes at Dunbarton College in Washington, D.C. in a program designed for young working class women who wanted to earn a college degree. The government study grant she received to spend the summer in France added depth to her teaching and was personally enriching.
Many of her students and certainly her family were devoted to sister and she loved them all without reserve, always rejoicing in their accomplishments and successes. Few people knew that she was a devoted “pen pal” to many of the young sisters “on the missions” offering them support, encouragement and prayers. Even in her nineties she was eager and happy to learn how to use e-mail because it made her correspondence faster and easier for her and for them. Sister will be remembered for the many small niceties that flowed so easily from her generous heart.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.