Sr. James Francis McDonnell
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1937 - 2022October 13, 1937 - July 9, 2022
Sr. James Francis McDonnell, OSU spent her life helping others as a voice for the young, elderly and disadvantaged. Born in 1937 as of one three children to Francis and Anna, she was baptized at Our Lady of Victory in West Haven, CT and given the name Frances. Growing up, young Frances worked in her family’s coffee business and later attended secretarial school, but her desire to help others and love God with her whole heart called her to her vocation. Her faith was formed in her childhood religious education classes at Our Lady of Victory under the guidance of Sr. Ignatius Green, who taught Frances about prayer, the Church, and the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk.
She entered the Congregation in September of 1957 and professed her final vows on August 15, 1963, taking James Francis as her religious name, though she was known affectionately as Sr. Jamie. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1963 from St. John’s University and a Master’s in Education-Psychology from St. Rose College, Albany in 1973.
Sr. Jamie began her 28-year teaching career in 1962 at St. William the Abbot (Seaford, NY). She also taught at Our Lady of Grace School (Howard Beach, NY), St. Maurice (Stamford, CT), St. Thomas the Apostle (West Hartford, CT), and St. Louis (West Haven, CT).
Sister displayed a passion to help the disadvantaged and advocated for children with learning disabilities, children from broken homes, and the elderly, continuing her education at St. Joseph College in West Hartford studying Special Education/Learning Disabilities and Gerontology. In 1975, she was appointed as a Surrogate Parent for the State of Connecticut. She also sat on the Board of the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, serving as Vice President from 1972 to 1979.
Furthering her desire to help others, Sr. Jamie became certified in New York State as a drug and alcohol counselor in 1994. She ministered at various facilities at all levels including Seafield, Talbot House, and the Suffolk County Homeless Shelter, and continued to counsel people with addiction problems through her 70s. Sr. Jamie also volunteered for the LIACA (Long Island Addiction Counselors Association), having served as the 1st Vice President of the Board. She was also a keynote speaker for seminars and conferences on addiction topics.
Sr. Jamie, who exemplified the idea of “leading with faith”, ministered to the Ursuline community as she served as dining room hostess and infirmary assistant at St. Ursula Center and acted as a shopper and companion for Sisters in nursing homes and continued her ministry of prayer when she moved to an assisted living facility.
She entered into eternal life on July 9th, 2022 after a brief illness leaving behind an extraordinary legacy and nieces and nephews who loved her fiercely.
The wake of Sr. James Francis will take place on Saturday, July 16th from 9:30am to 10:45am in the main church of Our Lady of the Snow in Blue Point, NY with a funeral mass following at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk can be made in Sr. James Francis’ name by visiting www.tildonkursuline.org.
