Sister Mary Frances Therese Gibson
Born to earthly life: November 20, 1919
Religious profession: July 20, 1939
Entered eternal Life: October 2, 2011
It was part of God’s plan that in her 92nd year of life on the feast of the Guardian Angels Sister Frances Therese would enter the loving arms of Jesus. She trusted in God’s power, was attentive to and faithful in answering God’s calls till the end of her days on earth. She was a blessing to all whose lives she touched — in family, in community, in ministry, and with friends.
Adelaide Marie was born November 20, 1919, to Ernest and Rose (Rodenkirch) Gibson in Postville, Iowa, the second oldest of five children (four girls and one boy). They were a farming family until a good job opportunity caused them to move to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Little Adelaide loved to help her father outdoors. Because of her mother’s poor health, she and her older sister Cecilia did much of the housework.
Sister Frances Therese met the School Sisters of Notre Dame during her first grade in Prairie du Chien, which is where her desire to become a sister began. She was privileged to receive her First Communion at age seven. Two years later she was confirmed and took “Therese” as her Confirmation name. Sister’s interest in the missions was nurtured during those grade school years. Each month students would receive a free copy of the Little Missionary whenever they could sell a magazine copy of the Jesuit Missions.
Her grade school teachers did much to encourage her vocation. After eighth grade Adelaide entered the aspiranture in Milwaukee. At the request of her mother during her sophomore year, she returned home to help with the household duties. The next year she went back to continue her high school education in the aspiranture and candidature. At graduation time a classmate wrote this class prophecy: “Adelaide was given the name of Sister Mary Therese and missioned to an orphanage in China.”
The first part of the prophecy was fulfilled with her reception into the novitiate on July 18, 1938, when she was given the name Sister Mary Frances Therese. After her profession the following year, she began her mission experiences as a grade school teacher, being sent to: St. Joseph, Milwaukee, (1939-1949); Holy Angels, West Bend, Wis., (1949-1953); St. Michael, Milwaukee (1953-1955).
In l955 the missionary part of that graduation prophecy was somewhat fulfilled when Sister was missioned to Guam. Her assignment was to help open San Vincente Junior High. She taught there for four years and then at St. Francis, Yona, Guam until l965. After the death of her father, she returned to the states to be closer to her mother. In the twenty remaining years of her mother’s life, Sister continued her service as a teacher at: St. Mary, Glen Haven, Wis., (1965-1969); St. John Nepomucene, Prairie du Chien, Wis., (1969-1970); St. Gabriel, Prairie du Chien, Wis., (1970); St. James, Mukwonago,Wis., (1971); St. Mary, Burlington, Wis., (1971); St. Nicholas, Freedom, Wis., (1972-1973); and then as parish religious education coordinator at: St. Patrick, Menasha, Wis., (1973-1979); Holy Rosary, Darlington, Wis., (1979-1980); Christ King, Wauwatosa, Wis., (1980-1981); Notre Dame and St. Bridget, Chippewa Falls, Wis., (1981-1985).
In 1985, after her mother’s death, Sister Frances Therese volunteered to return to Guam. Besides teaching at Notre Dame High School in Talofofo, she was also librarian from 1985 to 1988. The following year she was asked to organize a library at Xavier High School on the island of Truk. After her golden jubilee in 1989, Sister wrote in her autobiography: “Thus the grade school girl of the late 1920s and early 1930s, whose desire was to get to a foreign mission, has had her wishes fulfilled by a loving Providence. A foreign mission assignment among native students from about eight different Micronesian islands — what better way could a missionary round out 50 years of active ministry!”
After Sister’s return to the states, she was missioned to Sacred Heart, Allenton, Wis., (l990-1993) as Director of Religious Education and then to All Saints in Logansport, Ind., where she conducted adult bible classes. In 2002, she helped close the Logansport mission and went to Mt. Calvary, Wis. for retirement. In October of 2007 she came to Notre Dame of Elm Grove.
Throughout her life, Sister Frances Therese continued to pray, read and keep in touch with province activities. Having been raised on a farm, she recently enjoyed rereading The Yearling and The Horse Whisperer — she loved to read about animals. A month before her death, while discussing her funeral liturgy plans, she sang each of the songs as she was choosing them. During the week before she died, she was in a discussion about the general chapter delegates.
This prayer, found in one of her books, was certainly a guiding framework for her life:
The hand of God shall hold you,
The peace of God enfold you,
The love that dreamed and formed you
Still surrounds you here today.
The light of God beside you,
Above, beneath, inside you,
The light that shines to guide you home
To the loving hand of God.
Sister Mary Ernest, Sister Frances Therese’s only living sister, is a member of the Notre Dame of Elm Grove community.
– Sister Marie Rose VanDeurzen
Press Release issued by Notre Dame High School in Talofofo, Guam available HERE>
Sr. Mary Frances Therese, SSND died on October 2, 2011, age 91. Survived by her sister, Sr. Mary Ernest Gibson, SSND, friends and the SSND Community. A Wake Service was celebrated October 6, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at The Holy Family Chapel at Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Wis. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the School Sisters of Notre Dame Retirement Fund is appreciated.
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