NORTH SMITHFIELD — Franciscan Missionary of Mary Sister Frances Callanan, of Ein Karim Community, died March 7 at St. Antoine Residence.
She was born in Providence, the daughter of the late Francis and Emily (Devine) Callanan.
She entered the Institute of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on June 14, 1943 at North Providence, where she pronounced her first vows on December 15, 1945 and her final vows on December 15, 1948. She ministered at St. Anthony School, Cincinnati, OH and then served at Divine Providence Shelter in Manhattan, NY, where she helped care for children.
Sister Callanan was transferred to Our Lady of Divine Help in East Boston, MA, where she served as a first grade teacher. As one of the first community of sisters serving in the newly constructed Kennedy Memorial Hospital, now know as Franciscan Hospital for Children, she began studies as an X-ray technician. She also served as a group mother and the community nurse.
After eleven years in Kennedy Memorial Hospital she was sent in mission to Holy Family Community, North Providence during which time she served as one of many sisters who went all over the United States selling the handwork made in the workrooms, thus obtaining the funds to support missionary works in the United States as well as young girls employed in work rooms overseas. She later ministered in Woonsocket for two years, where she served for the community and the shelter, as well as an organist and catechist.
In 1968, she was missioned to Bizana, South Africa, where she was supervisor and instructor of the X-ray department of the hospital and sacristan and organist for the parish.
Beginning in 1972, she served as a licensed practical nurse in the FMM Nursing Center in North Providence. In 1986, she served as a school nurse in Portsmouth Abbey.
Her last several years were spent as a resident in the FMM Assisted Living Residence and finally in St. Antoine’s Residence.
She is survived by two sisters, Rita Trenn and Patricia Cotter, both of North Kingston; two brothers, Joseph Callanan of Newport, and William Callanan of Warwick. She was predeceased by her brothers Thomas and Andrew Callanan.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 11 in Holy Family Chapel. Burial was in the Franciscan Sisters Cemetery, North Providence.
