Sister Constance Frank

october 13, 1926 - march 28, 2020

Sister Constance Frank (formerly Sister Clara), a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis U.S. Province, died on March 28, 2020, at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was 93 and in her 72nd year of religious life.

Constance was born to Michael Paul and Emma Judith (Shuba) Frank, on October 13, 1926, in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was one of three children in a devoutly Catholic Slovak family. Her brother Paul and sister Sylvia were twins. Her father was a stationary engineer, and her mother a devoted wife and mother. Constance’s early years in education were spent at Manchester Public School and St. Joseph’s. Michael had been taught by one of our pioneer sisters, Sister Constance Linhart. He named his daughter in her memory and insisted that she attend secondary school at Mount Assisi Academy, where she was salutatorian of her class. 

Constance entered the community from St. Gabriel Parish in 1945 and was received into the novitiate a year later at Mount Assisi Convent in Pittsburgh, where she was given the name of Sister Clara. She professed her first vows in 1947 at Mount Assisi Convent and immediately began teaching the elementary grades. Her final profession was in 1952. Sister Constance held a bachelor’s degree in education from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University) in Pittsburgh, and a master’s degree in both music and theology from Duquesne University, also in Pittsburgh.

Throughout 37 years of active ministry, Sister Constance taught the elementary grades at parish schools in Pennsylvania and the high school grades at Mount Assisi Academy in Pittsburgh and St. Francis Academy in San Antonio, Texas. She was involved in retreat ministry in Arizona and West Virginia before serving 24 years at the former Marian Hall Home (now Mt. Assisi Place). She also served as liturgist for Mount Assisi Convent. 

Sister’s favorite TV show was 60 Minutes, especially the commentary by Andy Rooney. Her favorite movie was The Nativity, and her favorite book was The Twilight of American Culture by Morris Berman. She was energized by the correspondence courses she took to keep up with current theology and loved solving crossword and word puzzles, reading anything theological and, of course, her music and the liturgy. 

Sister Constance is remembered as an exceptionally talented liturgist who mastered the organ as an instrument with great precision and discipline. She loved classical music and going to concerts and was a member of the local Diocesan Pastoral Musicians group and the local chapter of the National Pastoral Musicians.

Sister’s cremated remains will be buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh during a private committal service on September 12, 2020. Arrangements have been made by Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home in Bellevue, Pa.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the School Sisters of St. Francis Retirement Fund, 4900 Perry Highway, Suite 201, Pittsburgh PA  15229.

Sister Constance died during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of associated restrictions, a memorial Mass will be held at a later date.