Sister Frances Marie DeLac, OSF

April 12, 1912 - April 8, 1995

Sister Frances Marie DeLac, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, died on April 8, 1995, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Formerly known as Sister Leocadia, she was in her 66th year of religious life and just days shy of her 83rd birthday.

She was born to Paul and Frances (Ferderbar) DeLac on April 12, 1912 in Ambridge, Pa. She entered the community in 1928 — one of 11 novices who first came from St. Gabriel on Pittsburgh’s North Side to the new Mount Assisi Motherhouse in Bellevue that year — and received the name Sister Leocadia. She professed first vows in 1929 and final vows in 1935.

Sister Frances Marie held a bachelor’s degree in education from Villa Maria College in Erie, Pa., and a master’s degree in administration and guidance from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas.

Over five decades in active ministry, Sister taught at Catholic grade schools in the Pennsylvania towns of New Castle, Farrell, McKees Rocks, Bellevue, Perryopolis, Canonsburg, Center Township, Clymer and Russelltown. She also served in Clifton and Jersey City, N.J., and for many years as a teacher, principal and guidance counselor at St. Joseph School and our former St. Francis Academy in San Antonio. From 1967 to 1973, Sister Frances Marie served as guidance counselor and assistant principal at our former Mount Assisi Academy in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sister is remembered for her kind, unassuming manner, her simplicity and prayerful spirit, respect for authority and frequent willingness to put herself last. “When Sister Frances Marie taught first and second grades at the Motherhouse in the 1940’s, she had a simple way to teach the little children the need for a prayerful attitude as they stood in line ready to enter the Chapel,” one of our Sisters remembers. “‘Make yourself holy,’” she said, inviting them to fold their hands and center their thoughts on God.

In addition to her teaching ministry, Sister served our community as convent coordinator at St. Joseph Convent in San Antonio, at St. Francis Cabrini in Center Township, at St. John the Baptist in Perryopolis, and at St. Anthony in Clymer. She was also elected in 1970 as a delegate to our congregation’s Provincial Chapter.

“She did many things for the good of the community without consideration of herself or her needs,” remembers one Sister.

Sister Frances Marie had a strong love and desire for the Lord, a deep commitment to following Franciscan Rule, and great admiration for the Charismatic Movement, even attending the international conference at Notre Dame in 1972.

Though she spent her last years with the consequences of a stroke, Sister continued to be a vibrant member of our community through the example of her suffering.  Though she could not speak, Sister Frances Marie communicated in many other ways — smiling, frowning, laughing and crying. Her eyes always sparkled.

“Her pleasant manner in the midst of her daily difficulties was proof that she understood the plan of God for her,” recalls one of our Sisters who lived with her for many years. “We will never understand the mystery of Sister Frances Marie’s suffering, but I believe that we are blessed because of and through her suffering.”

Sister Frances Marie is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh, Pa.