Sister of St. Joseph Francis Cecilia English died on April 1, 2011. She was 95 years old.
Sister English entered the congregation from her home parish of St. Anthony of Padua, Syracuse, in 1938. She graduated from Nazareth College in Pittsford in 1937 with a bachelor’s degree in French, and earned a master’s degree in French from Laval University in 1953.
From 1940-43, Sister English taught at St. Michael in Penn Yan. In 1943, she was assigned to teach French at Elmira Catholic High, then in 1949 at DeSales High School in Geneva and finally at Rochester’s Nazareth Academy from 1964-69. She taught French for several years in diocesan elementary schools, and from 1977 through November 1979, she cared for her aging mother at the Bernadine Apartments in Syracuse. She then worked as a library assistant at both Nazareth Academy and Nazareth College until her retirement in 1992.
She continued to volunteer in retirement and also was involved in prayer ministry.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Rosemary English; her nieces, Mary Francis English, Eileen (Thomas) Fitzpatrick and Maureen (Timothy) Wiley; her nephews, Robert G. English, Basilian Father Paul F. English and John M. (Catherine) English; many grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins; and her sisters in the congregation. Her funeral liturgy was celebrated in the motherhouse chapel on April 7, 2011, with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Ministry Fund, 150 French Road, Rochester, NY 14618.
