Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sr. M. Francelia Magee, CSC

Nov. 2, 1911 - Sept. 30, 2000

South Bend Tribune 10/1/2000

Sister M. Francelia (Mary Cecilia Magee), CSC, 88, died on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Saint Mary's Convent, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind. Sister M. Francelia is survived by her sisters, Mrs. R.H. Brown of LaMesa, Calif., and Mrs. Ida Miller of Tujunga, Calif.; and by a number of nieces.

Sister M. Francelia entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1929 and made her first vows in 1932. She taught in Good Shepherd School, Beverly Hills, Calif., from 1932 to 1935. From 1935, shortly after pronouncing her perpetual vows, Sister Francelia was missioned to Bengal, then a district in India. She taught in various schools and did other types of work in Toomilia, Nagari, Rangamattia and Tejgaon villages. During the English withdrawal from India in the early 1950s, Sister was active in the country and rejoiced at the formation of East Pakistan.

She taught and worked in Dacca at Holy Cross College and Holy Rosary, and then moving on to Ranigan and Jalchatra for the years 1952 to 1972. Sister earned her BA degree from Dacca University. Sister Francelia came home to Saint Mary's for a year-long furlough, returning to Jalchatra in 1973. Her East Pakistan was now named Bangladesh after the 1971 war for independence. She worked in Dacca, Jalchatra and, after a home visit in 1978, she returned to Hashnabad to teach English in the Little Flower Seminary. Her students loved her very much because she was "a loving and caring teacher." Sister moved to Saint Joseph's Seminary, Rainna, Bangladesh, and was an English teacher for them in 1979 to 1981. She taught in the catechetical program at Holy Cross College, Dacca, until 1985. It was in 1985, after 50 years of service in India/Pakistan/Bangladesh that illness forced her to return to the United States permanently. Sister Francelia was a resident of Saint Mary's Convent, Notre Dame, since 1985 and, with the aid of a motorized wheelchair, was active in community service since 1994. Sister was active in the Apostolate of Prayer until her death.

A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, followed by interment at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556.