Obituary: Frederick, Snjm, S.M. Francis
FREDERICK,
S.M.
Francis,
(Esther Sylvia Haslam)
Esther Sylvia Haslam was born July 7, 1920, in Leamington, Ontario, Canada.
She was the third of seven children born to Frederick and Frances Brault Haslam.
She graduated from St. Francis Elementary School and St. Mary’s Academy and Toronto Normal School in Windsor, Ontario.
She also earned a B.A.
in Education from the University of Detroit.
Esther entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in 1939, pronouncing her vows in 1942 in Montreal, Quebec.
Throughout most of her religious life, Sister Francis was a classroom teacher.
The list of her assignments reads like a travelogue, partly because Sister had dual citizenship and was credentialed in both Canada and the United States.
Over the years, she taught every grade from Waterloo, Outremont, Windsor, and Amherstburg in Ontario to Detroit, Clair Shores, Clawson, Bartlett, and Dearborn Heights in Michigan, Chicago, Illinois, Seattle and Tacoma in Washington, Schenectady, New York, and Monterey, California.
In her later years she taught adult literacy in Southgate Michigan.
A fall put an end to her independence and she moved to Holy Names Residence in Ontario in 2003.
When it was clear that she would need assistance for her remaining years, Sister Francis chose to come to the retirement center of her community in Spokane, Washington, where she has lived since 2005.
Sister Francis was very conscientious, attentive to detail.
Her speaking and writing grammar and vocabulary were flawless.
She enjoyed good humor and wit, and was legendary for making copies of such things to share.
She looked forward to her daily card game and always brought treats.
She also colluded with her caregivers to prepare for holidays with special attention given to creative costuming.
No one was greener on St. Patrick’s Day; her Irish heritage was evident!
Sister Francis was able to travel a bit, to Ireland and to Rome, and she had wonderful memories to relate.
One never had to muse for long about what treat to bring her.
Anything little thing would do, as long as it was chocolate!
Sister often expressed her love and appreciation for her sisters and caregivers, for the ways that her life was fuller and richer because of her family and the people around her.
One prime area of her conscientiousness was to honor the prayer intentions people proposed and to follow up with the requester.
Sister Francis died peacefully the morning of April 26.
She is survived by her sisters Teresa Meloche of Windsor, Ontario, and Betty Laframboise of Ferndale, Michigan, and her brother Joseph Haslam of Thamesville, Ontario.
Her brothers Fred and John and her sister Mary predeceased her.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and by her religious sisters.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 3, 2012, at Convent of the Holy Names, 2911 West Fort Wright Drive, Spokane.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names Retirement Fund, 2911 West Fort Wright Drive, Spokane, WA 99224.
Please visit Sr. Francis’s online tribute and leave a condolence at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.