- Date Of Birth: February 2, 1930
- Date Of Death: July 29, 2017
- State: Indiana
Music was already a large part of the identity of Rose Mary Reus, the regular organist for her parish in Lancaster, PA, when she entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross at Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, IN in 1948. Six months later, upon reception of the holy habit, she received her name in religion, Sister Mary Jane Frances. Sister’s music ministry continued from 1951-1976 in Catholic elementary schools, teaching music, directing the choir, and giving private piano lessons. From there she moved into parish ministry as both an organist and pastoral minister. By the time she earned an M.A. in Liturgical Music (organ) in 1990 from The Catholic University of America, Sister Jane Frances’ “keyboard” had a wide range from years of service in Washington, D.C., Texas, Ohio, Indiana, New York, to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina. Sister took special pride in her 11 years of music ministry and visiting the sick and homebound in St. Raphael Catholic Community, Rockville, MD and Raphael House and Collingswood Nursing Home until 2005 when she moved to Saint Angela Hall, Kensington, MD due to ill health. In 2013 Sister moved to Saint Mary’s Convent where she spent her last years devoted to prayer. At the time of her silver jubilee in 1976 she wrote these lines of poetry: “There’s a lot that I would like to do/ The more I thought, the more I knew/ That God above, in His infinite love/ Had special plans for me.
Reception of the body and wake will be Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, followed by the Mass of Resurrection on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
