Sister Mary Fran's Services
Visitors are welcome; masks required.
Visitation: 4:00-5:00 p.m., Thursday, June 24, 2021, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704. Visitation begins with a prayer service.
Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 24; Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Michael DeTemple, celebrant.
Link for funeral Mass live-stream: https://youtu.be/kblSMOJUsc8
Burial: Calvary Cemetery, 10 a.m., Friday, June 25. Live-streamed on Facebook at @springfieldop
Memorials to honor the memory of Sister Mary Fran may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704. The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister Mary Fran are served by Butler Funeral Homes.
Springfield Dominican Sister Mary Frances Gorman, OP, died peacefully, Sunday June 20, at Sacred Heart Convent. She was born in Aurora, Ill., in 1949 to Thomas and Mary Alice Lawrence Gorman. She joined the Dominicans in 1967 and professed her vows in 1969 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield, Ill.
Sister Mary Fran, who for a time was known as Sister Thomas Mary, gave the first 16 years of her religious life to teaching primary students at Illinois’ Catholic schools in Mendota, Jacksonville, Morrisonville, Mt. Sterling, and Maryville, and then 8th grade in Evergreen Park. In 1986 she shifted to pastoral ministry, first as DRE and liturgist in Glen Carbon, 1986-1991, then at the religious education center in Arcola. In 1993 she became a pastoral associate at St. Therese Parish, Jackson, Miss. Returning to Springfield in 1997, she assisted in the computer lab at Cathedral and then at Sacred Heart Griffin where for three years she assisted in the computer lab and taught theology part time while developing her interest in the creative arts. From 2001 until 2018, when her health required a step back from active ministry, she was the resident potter at Jubilee Farm, New Berlin, Ill., and enjoyed creating and nurturing creativity in others. She taught classes at the Springfield Art Association and was a dedicated member and past president of the Dominican Institute for the Arts.
Sister Mary Fran was preceded in death by her parents and her brother John. She is survived by her sisters Nancy (Ray) Bagley/Gorman and Virginia (Paul) Ledesma, and her brothers Thomas (Theresa), David (Dzintra), Harry (Connie), Jay, Don (Jana), Joe, and Bob (Gwen); many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and dear friends.
Sister Mary Fran was a wonderful person, a beautiful singer (oh those Novitiate Days!), and a jovial, loving person. May she rest in peace. God bless her family, her classmates, and all of the Dominican Sisters. Much love.
Sister Mary Fran was a dear friend and a joy to be around. She was so talented and loved to share her creations. I was also in the Novitiate with her and remember her patiently trying to improve my creative skills. Rest in peace.
My little sister.
Mary who I call Mar was older then me but I was taller! Mary always laughed at my goofy antics. She would smile at me with those big dimples. Mary was active, she would go on family canoe trips down the fox, play badminton, or hot box. One day while I was working on my dirt bike I asked Mary if she wanted a ride? I figured she would say no. So as we rode around town with habit and all we had fun! Mary also loved to play games like spoons or farkle. I thought I would not miss Mar. She is with mom, dad, johnny and God! But as I write this tears are flowing! Heck Mar may have her own bike? RIP little sister! Love and miss ya.
Thank you for sharing such tender stories, Joe!
Sister Mary Fran loved people. She was always excited when families came to Jubilee Farm, especially children. Her love of Nature was strong as she would give tours of the trees and rocks found at Jubilee Farm. Many of her pottery creations would be elements of Nature. I especially loved her beautiful leaves that she would fashion out of pottery by pressing the actual leaf into the clay to get the true veins found there. I will truly miss Mary Fran because I was her Angel Mom when she came to the convent and now she is my Angel.