Born: Jeanne Marie Williams, May 19, 1941, Barrington, RI

Died: August 6, 2022. St. Anthony’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida

Daughter of: John and Eileen O’Neill Williams, Barrington, RI

Jeanne entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on September 8, 1959, was received into the Congregation on July 2, 1960 and professed her final vows on July 2, 1967. For 63 years, Sister lived her commitment to Franciscan values through her ministry and life in community.

Sr. Jeanne completed elementary school at Paul School, Warwick, RI and graduated from St. Mary Academy, Riverside, RI in 1959.

She attended St. Elizabeth Teacher College in Allegany, NY, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math, with minors in Philosophy and English from St. Bonaventure University.

Jeanne pursued graduate studies at Villanova University, Villanova, PA; St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY; The School of Applied Theology, Berkley, CA and Neumann College, Aston, PA earning a Masters’ Degrees in Sacred Science (St. Bonaventure) and Pastoral Care and Counseling (Neumann College).

Sister began her ministry in education in Congregational schools, teaching mathematics to high school students at St. Paul HS, St. Petersburg, FL; St. Mary HS, Cortland, NY; and Little Flower HS, Ft. Myers, FL until 1980. She then completed an internship in Youth Ministry at Rye Beach, NH and in 1981 became part of the retreat team for The Franciscan Center in Tampa, FL.

In 1985, Sr. Jeanne earned her certification in Massage Therapy and began a career in health care at St. Joseph Hospital, Tampa, FL. In 2000, she was elected as a member of the Region III Leadership Team, serving until 2002. She served as the Co-Director of Mission Integration Office for the Congregation until 2004. In 2005, Jeanne was elected as Co-Regional for the US and relocated to New Jersey. In 2008, she accepted the ministry as Director of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany Associate Program, which she held until her retirement in 2020.

Sr. Jeanne was truly accomplished in many areas, serving as a Spiritual Retreat Director, Liturgist and Musician. What profession she held no means defined who Jeanne was. She encompassed the various gifts God bestowed on her–which she lovingly shared with others.  Her love, smile and infectious laugh were imparted abundantly with others.

On July 14th, Enterprising Latinas, a program of Allegany Franciscan Ministries, honored Sr. Jeanne by naming a new building after her because she exemplifies the role Franciscan Sisters of Allegany have had in Florida communities for nearly 100 years.

Sr. Jeanne is predeceased in death by her parents, John and Eileen O’Neill Williams, a brother, John Williams, Jr, an Aunt, Sr. Rosaline O’Neill and a Great Aunt, Sr. M. Joachim McCarthy, both Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Joan Williams.

A Wake Service will be held Friday, August 12, 2022 at 4:00PM in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, New York. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30AM, Saturday, August 13, 2022 in the Motherhouse Chapel, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery Allegany, New York.

The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, NY.

For condolences and comments, please visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com 

The funeral arrangements in Florida were under the direction of Brett Funeral Home, Inc.

Sr. Jeannie was “an original” board member for Allegany Franciscan Ministries, serving on the founding board of the Allegany Franciscan Foundation-Miami, and her commitment to us and the people we serve was joy-filled and steadfast from those early days. She asked hard questions and expected results, but she always believed in us and in the Wimauma community. In the early days of the Common Good Initiative, her exhortation to the board “we cannot, not do this!” to provide a $200,000 capital grant for Enterprising Latinas (ELI) to purchase a building created a tipping point for ELI, setting them firmly on the road to the successful community development organization they are today. Even though her cancer treatments the last few years, Jeannie never missed a Council meeting. I think we’ll especially miss her exclamations of delight when she was pleased or surprised.

God rest her beautiful soul.

Born: Margorie Estelle Rumsey, January 10, 1934, Breckenridge, TX

Died: August 10, 2022, St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY

Daughter of: Wright and Lela Maggie Lane Rumsey, Port Allegany, PA

Margaret entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on February 2, 1957; was received into the Congregation on August 15, 1957 and professed her final vows on August 16, 1964.

She attended elementary and high schools in Port Allegany, PA, graduating in 1951. Following graduation, Margaret enrolled in WCA Hospital School of Nursing, Jamestown, NY, graduating in 1954 as a registered nurse and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY. Prior to entering the Congregation, Margaret worked as an RN in the Maternity Ward of St. Francis Hospital, Olean, NY.

In 1958, after first profession of vows, Sr. Margaret continued her ministry as a Franciscan Sister of Allegany in healthcare, working as a nurse and nursing supervisor in Congregational hospitals – St. Clare Hospital, New York City; Villa Mary Immaculate, Albany, NY; St. Joseph Manor, Olean, NY; and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, NJ. In 1978, Sr. Margaret was the nursing supervisor of the Infirmary at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY.

Following her ministry in healthcare, Margaret ministered to the poor and marginalized in Camden, NJ and St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, PA. In 1982, she began retreat ministry as Assistant Coordinator of the Missionary Servant Renewal Center conducting retreats. In 1993, she relocated to Florida conducting retreats at the Dominican Retreat House in Miami and The Franciscan Center, Tampa, FL.

In 2003, Sr. Margaret retired, living in community at the Franciscan Convent and St. Elizabeth Convent, Tampa. FL. In 2018, Margaret was warmly welcomed home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.

Margaret is predeceased by her parents, Wright and Lela Maggie Lane Rumsey; two sisters: Carolyn Brow and Peggy Long; a brother, W.G. Rumsey, Jr. of Omaha, NE. She is survived by two nieces: Susan and Eileen Long and several nephews, John and Tim Long; Mark, Tim and Scott Rumsey.

A Wake Service will be held at 4:00PM, Thursday, August 18, 2022 in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM, Friday, August 19, 2022 in the Motherhouse Chapel, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery Allegany, New York.

The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, NY . For condolences and comments, please visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com

Born: Sandra Lea Teevens, August 30, 1939, Woonsocket, RI

Died: August 12, 2022, Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY

Daughter of: Frederick Norman Teevens, Eleanor Walsh Blanchette and Ernest Blanchette, Sr., Woonsocket. RI

Sandra (Sandy) entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on September 8, 1958; was received into the Congregation on July 2, 1959 and professed her final vows on July 3, 1966.

Sr. Sandy attended elementary, middle and high schools in Woonsocket, RI, graduating in 1957. She attended St. Elizabeth Teachers College, graduating from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. In 1990, she earned a Master of Arts Degree in Pastoral Ministry from LaSalle University, Philadelphia, PA.

She began her ministry in education teaching in Congregational Schools in Buffalo, NY, Ashville, NC, Everett, MA, Alexandria, VA and Wood-Ridge, NJ. After many years as an educator, Sr. Sandy served with the poor and marginalized in Camden, NJ and at St. Francis Inn, Philadelphia, PA, as well as in parish/social ministry in Winston Salem, NC.

In 1991, Sister became the County Director of Catholic Social Services in Cape May, NJ, working for the Diocese of Camden until 1996. Her desire to work with and help people took her to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, NJ, where she was a Family Care Coordinator in various departments of the hospital, and in 2005, she focused specifically on assisting in the Emergency Department, a position she held until 2010.

Sandy’s warmth, caring nature and compassion were instrumental in her success as an educator and social services advocate. Her thoughts were always focused on helping and sharing her gifts of laughter and magical smile with those around her.

In 2011, Sr. Sandy returned to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse and fulfilled many internal ministries. Early in 2022, she fully retired due to health issues.

Sandy is predeceased by her father, Frederick Norman Teevens; mother, Eleanor Walsh Blanchette; stepfather, Ernest Blanchette; a brother, David Teevens and step-brother-in-law Joseph Wojciechowski. She is survived by a step-sister, Deborah Wojciechowski; step-brother, Ernest and (Dyana) Blanchette, Jr; three nieces, Stephanie, Sarah and Amy, as well as two grandnieces, Eliana and Genevieve.

A Wake Service will be held at 4:00PM, Thursday, August 18, 2022 in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM, Friday, August 19, 2022 in the Motherhouse Chapel, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery Allegany, New York.

The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, NY. For condolences and comments, please visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com

To read a piece of history, a letter home written together, by Lucy Cardet, OSF, the late Sandy Teevens, OSF, and Margaret Rumsey, OSF, click here. This letter provides some unique insight into some of the work the three of them did during the Spring of 1973 together in Camden, NJ.

Stephanie D. Conners, an experienced health care leader who began her career as a nurse, has been named the next chief executive officer and president of BayCare Health System, West Central Florida’s largest not-for-profit health care provider and one of its largest employers.

Conners, 50, was selected by the BayCare Board of Trustees following an extensive national search that began in February after Tommy Inzina, BayCare’s current CEO and president, announced his plans to retire by year’s end. Conners will be the 25-year-old organization’s fourth CEO.

Currently, the executive vice president and chief operating officer for Jefferson Health, a large, not-for-profit health care system based in Philadelphia, Conners will join BayCare in October to begin the leadership transition.

“For the board, it was paramount that we find a leader who is committed to BayCare’s legacy of mission-driven, community-focused health care,” said Rick Colón, chairman of the board.

To read the full article, visit: BayCare Newsroom: BayCare Announces New CEO

Allegany Franciscan Ministries has adopted “Climate Justice and Care for Creation” as our next strategic priority focus area. With our long-planned transition out of the Common Good Initiative set for the end of 2023, we have an opportunity to use our social, human, and financial capital in new ways.

Climate justice advocates for solutions that address the disproportionate climate impacts on people of color, women, people with disabilities, people who are economically poor, and those who live in under-resourced neighborhoods and communities. Climate justice recognizes that people who’ve done the least to cause climate change are the ones who suffer the worst of its effects, like flooding, drought, rising sea levels, and heatwaves.

Care for Creation is a principle in Catholic social teaching, calling us to protect people and the planet, and to live our faith in right relationship with all of God’s creation.

On a July 9th Zoom call with other young professed sisters, Liliane Araujo Costa was asked about her experience of being in Mozambique. Liliane related that she had arrived on the 7th of April. The other sisters had arrived in January.

“Everything is very intense and very deep,” she said.

She then spoke about how the people welcomed the sisters and continually express how happy they are with their arrival and presence. Despite the hard and difficult reality of the conditions the people endure, there is deep faith and joy. Liliane mentioned that there was a meeting of young people with more than 1,000 present.

When asked about shelter, she replied: “They sleep under the trees and eat under the trees. The food is good and they are very happy. Their faith surpasses any difficulty.”

Liliane went on to explain that the country is young and finding its way as a nation. It gained independence from Portugal in 1976. Mozambique was exploited by the Portuguese. The sisters can relate to this as Brazil was also exploited by Portugal. What is striking is that in Mozambique the people are not angry about their exploitation which is a great gift. The people are also very hospitable, opening up and sharing what little they have. What is also striking is that the liturgies on Sunday last 3 to 4 hours with a lot of dancing, singing and much joy. Liliane also noted that there is a sizable secular Franciscan group who will celebrate its 30th year soon. Liliane is serving as the group’s spiritual director.

When Liliane was coming to the country she thought “I’m bringing a lot.”

She later felt differently: “I am actually receiving a lot.”

Seeing the joy and happiness in the midst of so very little materially is a very powerful experience. She feels that it was divine inspiration that the congregation was allowed to come and not just some coincidence.

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