SISTER FRANCINE FONTANA, OSF
1929 – 2025
SISTER FRANCINE FONTANA, OSFSister Francine Fontana was born to eternal life on November 18, 2025, at Cardinal Ritter Senior Services in St Louis, MO, at the age of 96. She was born Mary Antonia on April 13, 1929, to Francesca and Guiliano Fontana, immigrants from Italy who settled in Monroe, LA. Growing up in a large Catholic Italian family, Sister Francine’s faith and desire to serve God were nurtured by her family, and in her own words, “was instrumental in leading me to religious life.”
After attending one year at St. Matthew Catholic High School in Monroe, Sister Francine and her twin sister left the security of family and friends and ventured to St. Louis, MO, to attend Mother of Perpetual Help High School, a school for young women considering religious life.
On September 2, 1946, Sr. Francine and her twin sister, who would become Sr. Julice, entered the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Unaware of the significance of their entrance, these young women would be the first non-Polish candidates to enter the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The twin sisters pronounced final vows on August 12, 1952.
Sister Francine’s desire to serve God compelled her to become a Catholic school educator, earning a BA in Education from Webster College, and later, an MA in Administration from Saint Louis University. Sister ministered to students in grades 1 through 8 as a teacher and principal for nearly 40 years. Always eager to learn new skills, Sister Francine procured Library Science certification from Northeast Louisiana State University.`
Her leadership qualities were acknowledged by her community. Sister served her community directly as a member of its leadership team and as local leader at various convents across the Midwest and South.
Sister Francine was the epitome of a lady. Her gentle mannerisms, her speech, her attire, her ever-present smile, and her brown eyes invited others into her space with openness and mutual respect. She possessed a genuine mixture of Southern hospitality and a Franciscan love of life. Her desire to serve her Lord was expressed in the way she lived and the way she served others. Her life gave glory to God!
Following a celebration of her life and a Mass of Resurrection, she was laid to rest among her Franciscan Sisters at Resurrection Cemetery in Shrewsbury, MO. Memorials are being accepted by the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Kirkwood, MO, over the phone (314-965-3700), through the mail (335 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO, 63122), and via the website (www.fsolph.org). Please contact srcheryl@fsolph.org/donate/ with questions.
