Frances Bernadine Flanigan was born in Niles, Ohio to Edward and Clara (nee Sasse) Flanigan on New Year’s Day of 1925.  She and her older brother, Robert, were raised in Niles where they attended St. Stephen School and Church. Her three nephews, Kenneth, Robert and William, and her niece, Patricia Schumacher, and their families survive her.      

At the age of 17 Sister Frances graduated from Villa Maria High School, Villa Maria, Pennsylvania and on September 8 of 1942 she became a postulant of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. She received her religious name, Sister Mary Kenneth, in July 1943 and as a novice began preparation for her First Vows which she made on July 17, 1945.  She professed her perpetual vows in 1948. 

Sister Frances began her ministry in education as a teacher at St. John High School, Canton and in the next 10 years taught at St. Patrick, Hubbard; St. Cecilia, Cleveland, St. John the Baptist, Canton and St. Paul, Canton.  During that same time she was completing her BSE degree at St. John College, Cleveland.  After teaching for three years at St. James, Lakewood, she was assigned for six years to both teach and serve as principal at St. Martha, Akron. She was also working on her MA degree which she completed in 1964 by studying during the summers at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.  Eight years later she completed her PhD in Education at Kent State University.  After teaching at St. Albert the Great, North Royalton for one year, she was named principal of St. Raphael School, Bay Village where she served from 1967-73. 

Her appointment as area supervisor for two years in the Department of Education of the Diocese of Cleveland paved the way for then-Cleveland Bishop James A. Hickey to name her Secretary for Education in the new diocesan cabinet structure in 1975.  She oversaw Catholic education in the diocese including its Catholic schools, Parish Schools of Religion, Newman Campus ministry and Head Start programs.  She represented the bishop in all dimensions of Catholic Education.  Sister Frances continued to serve in that capacity when Bishop Anthony Pilla became Bishop of Cleveland in 1980. She held that responsibility until 1983. 

Many were unaware of the multitasking done by Sister Frances most of her life. For 12 years, from 1977-89 she served as a councilor on the leadership team of the Humility of Mary Congregation and was General Secretary four of those years.  While serving in congregational leadership, she opened the Development Office of the HM Community in Lorain and simultaneously became involved in hospital administration, serving as interim CEO at St. Joseph Hospital in Lorain where she is remembered for knowing each employee and his/her family personally.  From 1985-89 she was director of the HM Health Care System which brought the hospitals in Lorain, Warren and Youngstown into one system. From 1989-98 she served as the CEO/President of the HM Health Care Corporation with offices located in Middleburg Hts.  She was instrumental in acquiring Laurel Lake Retirement Community, Hudson and bringing it under the umbrella of HM Health Care. In 1996 the Humility of Mary Health Care System became a sponsor of Catholic Healthcare Partners headquartered in Cincinnati.

Transferring her administrative abilities to yet another area of ministry, that of housing, Sister Frances was asked to serve as liaison with Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. in Akron beginning in 2001. From 2003-06 she was President and CEO of Villa Maria Residential Services [Villa Maria Apartments] at Villa Maria, Pennsylvania.  

As her health began to decline she optimistically turned over her responsibilities and sought to be of help wherever she could offer her services.  She participated in the special Prayer Ministry at Villa Maria with her sisters until her death.

Sister Carol Anne Smith, president of Magnificat High School, Rocky River, said of Sister Frances, “with her keen wit and brilliant mind Sister Frances was a beloved and esteemed leader in fields ranging from education to health care to housing and religious life.” 

May Sister Frances Flanigan rest from her labors for her good works go before her.

Contributions in memory of Sister Frances Flanigan may be forwarded to the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Development Office, PO Box 534, Villa Maria PA  16155.

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