Wednesday, February 3, 2010

A Mass of Christian Burial for Franciscan Sister Mary Sharon Raben was celebrated Jan. 25 at the motherhouse chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Ind. Sister Mary Sharon, 92, died Jan. 22 at St. Clare Hall, the health care facility for her congregation.

Born in St. Wendel, Ind., she entered the Oldenburg Franciscan community in 1938 and professed her final vows in 1944. Sister Mary Sharon was an elementary school teacher, principal and superior for 47 years, nine of which were spent as director of the former St. Vincent’s Home in Vincennes, Ind.

She also taught at St. Ann School in Hamilton and several schools in Indiana. From 1987 to 1996, Sister Mary Sharon served as director of domestic service at the Oldenburg motherhouse. Until 2000 she also assisted in the annual auction held in conjunction with the Sunman Fire Department.

Sister Mary Sharon is survived by two sisters, Rose Ann Nagy of Hammond, Ind., and Alice Craft of Hot Springs, Ark. Interment was in the motherhouse cemetery.