OBIT: Sister Frances Xavier (Rita HOLLAND), 2004, native of Blair 
County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Romayne Shay McMahon

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_________________________________________ 
         
RITA HOLLAND (Sister Francis Xavier)

  SISTER FRANCES HOLLAND, S.C., 77, died Sunday, September 26, 2004 at 
Caritas Christi, Mother-House of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.  
She was preceded in death by her parents, John P. Holland and Margaret 
(Shay) Holland.  She is survived by three sisters:  Mrs. Leo "Jeanne" 
Lambert of Altoona, Clare Holland in Connecticut and Mrs. Richard 
"Mary" Stublarec in Rhode Island; two brothers: Donald of Hollidaysburg 
and Bernard in Nevada; and nieces and nephews.
  Sister Frances entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill September 
8, 1945 from St. Leo Parish, Altoona, Pa.  She earned a Bachelor of 
Arts degree in Mathematics and Spanish from Seton Hill University and 
ministered as a high school Spanish, Religion and History teacher for 
22 years.  She taught for 14 years at Bishop McCort High School, 
Johnstown, and eight years at the former Elizabeth Seton High School at 
Brookline.
  With a Master's  Degree in Spanish, her 1974 summer working with 
migrant workers  in Ohio led her to a position as Hispanic Ministry 
Consultant in the Toledo Diocesan Office, where she visited parishes 
and set up programs for Hispanic adults.   Sr. Frances  earned a 
Master's Degree in Theology at Incarnate Word College, San Antonio and 
studied at the  Mexican American Cultural Center.  She went to Arizona 
to coordinate religious education programs in Chandler, where she began 
a bus service, bringing children to the parish center for the dual 
language program.  Sister Frances labored to bring Christ to many 
Spanish-speaking Catholics, traveling in Northern Arizona, teaching 
adults and leading Bible studies.
  In 1997, she was honored by the Diocese of Phoenix for her 15 years 
of service and leadership in catechetical ministry. A thread of love 
and service winds through the life of Sister Frances, a gentle and 
quiet woman who said, "My mission in life is to bring Christ to all 
whom I serve and to strive to build community spirit among my sisters."
  Friends will be received from 2 to 7 p.m. today and Wednesday at 
Caritas Christi. 459 Mt. Thor Road, Greensburg.  Funeral Mass will be 
held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Chapel of the Assumption. Caritas Christi.  
Burial at Sisters' Cemetery, Seton Hill, Greensburg.
  Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity, DePaul 
Center, 463 Mt. Thor Road, Greensburg, PA 15601.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pennsylvania, September 28, 2004