Frances Eileen Dunne, BVM
Frances Eileen Dunne, BVM died Thursday, May 26, 2016,at Caritas Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Visitation will be from 9–11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, in the Marian Hall Chapel followed by a prayer service at 11 a.m. Funeral liturgy will be at 1:30 p.m. Burial is in the Mount Carmel cemetery.
She was born in Chicago on Feb. 22, 1925, to Patrick and Nora Buckley Dunne. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1943, from St. Peter Canisius Parish, Chicago. She professed first vows on March 19, 1946, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1951.
Frances Eileen taught elementary school and was vice principal in Dubuque and Fort Dodge, Iowa; Lead, S.D.; and Chicago and Maywood, Ill., where she also served as school secretary/treasurer.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Patrice Norine Dunne, BVM and Catherine Collins; and brothers: Joseph, John, Patrick, James and Gerald. She is survived by sister-in-law Mary Therese Lazowski, Addison, Ill.; nieces; nephews; and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with whom she shared life for 72 years.
Sister Frances Eileen Dunne, BVM
Funeral Welcome
Marian Hall, May 31, 2016
Good afternoon and welcome to the celebration of life of our Sister Frances Eileen Dunne.
On Feb. 22, 1925, Cecilia Dunne joined the Patrick Dunne and Nora Buckley family of Chicago, as the youngest of eight children. Her parents were both born in Ireland. Her father was a policeman who died from a bleeding ulcer when Cecilia was in first grade. Her mother was a prayerful woman who often brought vigil lights home from church in order to clean them. Cecilia’s brother Jeremiah died during the 1918 flu epidemic. Her sister Mary entered the BVMs when Cecilia was six and received the name Sister Mary Patrice Norine in honor of her parents. She died April 25, 2000.
Cecilia’s call to religious life seems to have come early. During an interview, she said, “When I was in eighth grade, I worked in a delicatessen; sometimes I ran the place. A young man who worked in the tavern next door said, ‘I’ll wait for you.’ I said, ‘You can wait till doomsday!’” She was one of nine girls from St. Mary HS in Chicago who entered the congregation on Sept. 8, 1943. All nine remained in the community. Cecilia received the name Frances Eileen upon her reception on March 19, 1944, professed her first vows on March 19, 1946, and lived 72 years as a BVM.
Frances Eileen was an elementary school teacher for 53 years. She was missioned at St. Jerome, St. Charles and St. Vincent in Chicago; Corpus Christi in Fort Dodge, Iowa; St. Patrick in Lead, S.D.; St. Patrick in Dubuque, Iowa; and St. Eulalia in Maywood, Ill. She commented, “Though I taught grades two, three and four, I liked second the best. So enthusiastic, they could run the class for you.” In 1976, she went to St. Eulalia ES in Maywood and remained there for 29 years. During that time she served as secretary, treasurer, vice principal and special education teacher, which she said kept her “young and on my toes.” Both the children and the teachers loved her. She worked diligently to get the struggling children up to grade level and frequently took on extra tasks to ease the load of other teachers. She retired in 2002, moved to Wright Hall in 2005, and then to Mount Carmel in 2008, about which she commented, “They are marvelous here. I have no complaints.”
St. Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.” Frances Eileen was a quiet, gentle soul, always kind, pleasant and welcoming. She was very easygoing and unassuming, putting others ahead of herself. If a favor was needed, she would generously offer her help. To people who really came to know her, she would open up and reveal a keen sense of humor in the form of one-liners delivered with a twinkling eye and a playful smile. Most people would never guess that she had an adventurous streak, agreeing to tour a gold mine near Lead, wearing a jumpsuit and a hard hat. She had a special fondness for dogs and was thrilled to own one while living in Maywood. Frances Eileen enjoyed everyone; she simply enjoyed life.
Perhaps our feelings today as we celebrate Frances Eileen’s entrance into eternal life could be best summarized by the pastor of St. Eulalia Church who wrote the following message for her farewell celebration: “Saying ‘Good-bye’ is not always easy—such is the experience today as we all gather to celebrate the many ways our sister, Sister Frances Eileen, has loved us and ministered to us . . . Many have been blessed by her wisdom through the years. All of us who know Sister have cherished her gentle ways of calling us to life and encouraging us to carry on in tough times . . . We must celebrate our joy in knowing and loving her; we must celebrate her love and great faithfulness to the God who called her to religious life and the wonderful ways she has responded to her call to serve and teach in the church. Sister Frances has truly been ‘Sister’ to many of us and for this we are grateful. Instead of good-bye let us pray, God be with you, dear Sister Frances Eileen. Thank you for your ministry among us!”
I had Sister in 3rd grade at St. Patrick’s in Lead, SD. She was my favorite teacher ever. She once gave me a Holy card of St. Cecilia (my name) and revealed to me that her birth name was Cecilia. I still have the Holy card all these years later. It meant/means so much to me.
Sister Mary Frances Eileen taught at Corpus Christi School in Fort Dodge, IA back in the 1950’s. I was fortunate that I had her for a teacher in 3rd grade. She was kind, gentle and giving. One day I was having a difficult morning. She asked what was wrong and I explained I hadn’t eaten breakfast. She then took me over to the convent and fed me breakfast! After she was transferred to another city, we corresponded for several years. If there is one teacher that had a positive impact on my life, it is her. I still think about her all these years later. RIP