Sister Frances Eustace, CSJ, 97

Sister Frances Eustace, CSJ (Sister Frances Regis), 97, died June 19 at St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for the past 74 years. 

Sister Frances was born in Paterson, N.J., on Oct. 30, 1921, daughter of the late Francis and Louise O’Brien Eustace. After graduating from Lyndhurst (N.J.) High School, she attended Douglass College of Rutgers University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) where she met the Sisters of St. Joseph. From 1943-1944 during World War II and as part of the war effort, Sister Frances worked as an aeronautical engineering assistant at Curtiss Wright Corporation. 

On March 19, 1945, Sister Frances entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1950. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from The College of Saint Rose, a master’s degree in English Literature from The Catholic University of America (CUA) and a Ph.D. in English Education, also from CUA. In addition, Sister Frances received training in clinical-pastoral education at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, and St. Peter’s Hospital, New Brunswick, N.J. 

Sister Frances spent her first 10 years as a Sister of St. Joseph as an English teacher in high schools in the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses. After completing her doctoral studies, she was a professor of English at The College of Saint Rose where she also served as department chairperson.

Sister Frances later used her clinical-pastoral training by working with Dorothy Day at St. Joseph Catholic Worker House in New York City; by assisting persons with drug-related problems at Ardis House Therapeutic Community in New York City; by working in pastoral care at Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, and Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy, NJ; by serving in parish ministry at St. Ambrose Parish, Avenel, N.J., and St. Rose of Lima Parish, Syracuse; and by volunteering at St. Joseph’s Provincial House as a member of the staff in both the archives and the infirmary and in the province’s social justice endeavors.  

 Sister Frances is survived by several beloved nieces and nephews and their families; by many dear cousins and friends; and by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In addition to her parents, Sister Frances was predeceased by her brothers, William Eustace and Fr. Francisco Eustace, OFM; and by her sister, Patricia Fallon. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the chapel of the Provincial House on Tuesday, June 25. Donations in Sister Frances’ memory can be made to the Development Office, Sisters of St. Joseph, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, N.Y., 12110.