June 23, 2017

OBITUARY: Sister Mary Frances Lavelle, SSJ

REGIONAL

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Sister of St. Joseph Mary Frances Lavelle (formerly Sister Agnes Philippa), 89, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died on June 22 in Bethany Healthcare Center, Framingham, Mass.

Born in Holyoke, she was the daughter of Philip and Bridget (Monahan) Lavelle. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from the former Sacred Heart Parish, Holyoke in 1946. She graduated from the former Sacred Heart High School, Holyoke, and earned her bachelor of arts  degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, and a master of arts degree in administration from North Adams State College.

Among her teaching assignments were St. Joseph School, Cherry Valley; the former Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Springfield; Sacred Heart School, Gardner; the former Cathedral High School, Springfield; St. Peter Marion High School, Worcester; the former Holyoke Catholic High School, Holyoke; and the former St. Joseph High School, North Adams. In her latter years, she served as coordinator of retirement at Mont Marie and as community archivist.

In addition to her sisters in community, she is survived by her siblings, Philip M. Lavelle of Quincy, Mass.; Michael J. Lavelle of Westfield, Mass.; Francis P. Lavelle of Marston Mills, Mass.; and Sarah A. Dean, of Marston Mills, Mass.; and by many nieces and nephews and their families. She was predeceased by her siblings John J. Lavelle, Charles E. Lavelle, and Teresa Pollard.

All services for Sister Mary Frances Lavelle will take place in St. Joseph Chapel at Mont Marie, Holyoke, on Monday, June 26. She will be waked from 9 to 10:30 a.m., with a prayer service at      10 a.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.