Sister Francis Kearney, O.S.U.

Sister Francis Kearney, O.S.U. entered peacefully in her sleep into eternal life on April 8, 2014, at the family home in Sonoma.

The daughter of Jim and Wanda (McCoy) Kearney, Patricia (Pat) Ann Kearney was born Nov. 13, 1931, in Sonoma. She graduated from Ursuline High School, Santa Rosa in 1949. She entered the Ursuline Novitiate in Festus, Mo., Jan. 15, 1950. She graduated from the College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, N.Y., after which she returned to Santa Rosa in 1955 to begin her teaching career, which took her from Santa Rosa to Moscow, Idaho; Saint John’s, San Francisco; and Great Falls, Mont., then back to Santa Rosa where she taught at both St. Rose and Ursuline high schools. She also held numerous leadership roles within her religious community as well as attending various universities in Idaho and California.

She returned to Sonoma to care for her aging mother while also serving part-time at Ursuline High School, where she continued until the school’s closing in 2011. Following her mother’s death in 1997, she continued the Friday Night Group, a group of friends, begun by her parents which still gathers weekly for good cheer, good times and conversation. The Kearney home also serves as the location of the Wednesday Night Centering Prayer Group, and the Saturday Night Renew Group. Sr. Francis (Pat) is known for her deep faith, gracious Irish hospitality, love of life and generous concern for others.

She was predeceased by her parents; her sister and brothers-in-law Wynn and Ed McCambridge; and her sister-in-law, Sydnee McCambridge. She is survived by her two sisters, June Kearney, SNJM, Campbell; and Fran Kearney, SNJM, San Francisco. Her nieces and nephews, Anne (McCambridge) Hellsund, Dan and Ann-Louise, Natalie and Cassandra McCambridge, Steve and Nina, Jessie and Dakota McCambridge and numerous McCoy and Kearney cousins.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma.

The celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 11, at St. Leo’s Church, 601 W. Agua Caliente Road, Sonoma. The interment will be held at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Santa Rosa at 2 p.m. on Friday.

Duggan’s Mission Chapelwww.duggansmissionchapel.comSonoma