M. Francella Shaughnessy, I.H.M., dies

 

A funeral Mass for Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister M. Francella Shaughnessy was scheduled for Jan. 18 in Scranton, Pa. Sister Francella died Jan. 14. She was 93.

A native of Scranton, Sister Francella entered the religious order in 1938.

She began her teaching career in 1941 at St. Bernardine Elementary School in Baltimore. After teaching there for one year, she served at schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey until 1968.

She served her religious order as director of formation of new members from 1968 to 1974 and as northern sector superior from 1978 to 1986.

Sister Francella also ministered at what is now Marywood University in Scranton as a speech therapist from 1974 to 1978, tutoring coordinator from 1986 to 1991, academic adviser from 1991 to 1999 and adviser to disabled students from 1999 to 2001.

She volunteered the Marian Convent’s gift shop in Scranton from 2001 to 2005.

From 2005 until her death, Sister Francella was a prayer minister at the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She earned a bachelor’s in special education from Marywood University and a master’s in speech therapy from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.