Sister Frances Randall died on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at the Notre Dame Long Term Care Center, Worcester, at the age of 88.
Sister Frances was born in Lowell, daughter of the late George and Margaret (Linnehan) Randall. She graduated from St. Patrick High School in Lowell, entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1951, and was known in religious life for many years as Sister Margaret St. George.
Sister Frances later graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston in 1963 with a degree in Education. She earned a master's degree in Education Curriculum from Florida Atlantic University in 1973 and Master of Social Work degree from Catholic University of America in 1992. She also studied Psychotherapy at the Jung Institute, in Zurich, Switzerland.
Sister began her ministry as a teacher for 13 years at schools affiliated with the Sisters of Notre Dame in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Conneticutt. In 1967, she shifted the focus of her ministry to Kenya in Africa. For more than 20 years, she was a teacher in support of the larger mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to serve people in Kenya. She returned to the United States in 1991, trained in social work and extended her ministry as a healthcare social worker in Connecticut for many years before retiring.
Fran Randall was a woman filled with the Spirit. An enthusiastic member of the charismatic community, both in Kenya and USA, she heard the, voice of God's Spirit in many different people and places. Her golden jubilee celebration on Pentecost Sunday was an experience of letting the Holy Spirit reign. During her early years in the community, she taught in SND schools in New England. As a member of the Kenyan Unit, she served at Eregi Teacher Training College, Kenyatta University, and Amani Counseling Center. She invited her students and her fellow SNDdeNs to freely be themselves. Her many artistic talents included her paintings and banana leaf pictures that adorned the walls of our communities. She and Sr. Therese Gerard were most hospitable to visitors who came our way. Her many adventures in Kenya were the source of hundreds of stories which she told over and over. As the saying goes, "All stories are true, and some of them actually happened." When she returned to the United States, Fran ministered as a social worker in several places with children and teenagers and then with former prisoners.
– Anne Malone, SNDdeN
Sister was part of a large family with a deep devotion to God and commitment to the Catholic Church. She was predeceased by her two sisters, Sister Mary Paul Randall C.S.I. and Margaret Madden; and five brothers, Rev. Edward Randall O.M.I., Bro. George Randall C.F.X., Rev. Timothy Randall M.S., David Randall and William Randall. Sister Frances leaves many nephews, nieces and cousins, and her religious family, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
The burial in Notre Dame du Lac Cemetery in Worcester will be private. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date when restrictions on public gatherings are modified.