Avis de décès de Sr. -Florence-Edward Kearney

Kearney, Sr. Florence Edward D.C. ALBANY Daughter of Charity Sister Florence Edward (Jane) Kearney, entered her eternal reward on February 19, 2013 at St. Louise House in Albany. Sister Florence Edward, daughter of Florence R. O'Brien and Edward B. Kearney, was born in Mt. Vernon, in 1931, and grew up there with her two brothers, Edward and Bob. A public grade school and the excellent education provided by the Ursuline nuns in New Rochelle prepared her for St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, Md., where she met the Daughters of Charity. She was surprised by their friendliness and charisma of service of the poor. Entering the Daughters of Charity in 1952 marked the beginning of a variety of experiences that made for a happy life. Teaching English at Seton High School in Baltimore, Bishop England High School, Charleston, S.C. and Cardinal McCloskey High School in Albany from 1961 to 1975, occupied the first 23 years of her life as a Daughter of Charity. Sister Florence Edward received her master's in literature from Catholic University which was helpful in the art of teaching English. Sister serving on the Provincial Council of the NE Province under the leadership of Sister Mary Basil Rourke, also brought about a change in her ministry. An advanced professional certificate in business administration from New York University and a certificate from the Institute for Not for Profit Management at Columbia University prepared Sister for the field of human services. As administrator of the Astor Child Guidance Center in the Bronx, a part of Astor Home for Children, Rhinebeck, N.Y., Sister moved the programs out of two storefronts to a newly constructed building and saw each program expand to meet more needs of children and families. In 1984, Sister became the associate director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen and in 1986 the executive director. Programs expanded in many sites because energetic, enthusiastic young staff focused on the needs of families, children, and single mothers and wrote successful grants to meet emerging needs. Catholic Charities grew in her 16 years there from a small respected agency to a quality agency with 29 sites in four counties with about 600 employees. Sister Florence Edward moved to St. Louise House as sister servant of the frail and elderly Daughters of Charity in 2001, a new adventure in an entirely different kind of service. Through the years Sister served on many boards of trustees and received awards for teaching, service to children, the Community Servant Award from the Diocese of Metuchen, and the Pro Ecclesia et Pro Pontifice Medal from the Pope. Sister Florence Edward is survived by her very special brother, Edward, who lives in Ponte Verde, Fla.; her sisters-in-law, Grace and Jane; 11 beloved nieces and nephews and their spouses; and 15 grandnieces and grandnephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 in the DePaul Provincial House Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. A wake service remembering Sister will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 25, 2013. Calling hours will begin Monday, February 25 from 4 p.m. when the body returns and is blessed in the DePaul House Chapel, 96 Menand Road, Albany, NY 12204. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Daughters of Charity Mission Service, 4330 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63108-2622. Online condolences may be offered at danielkeenanfuneralhome.com