Obituary of Sr. Frances Hewitt

Sister Frances Hewitt, Sister of Mercy Sister Frances Hewitt, 98, formerly Sister Mary Ambrose, died peacefully on April 18, 2017, at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey. Sister Frances was one of three children born to John and Margaret Hewitt in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1919. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Helen Battistini and brother Msgr Bernard Hewitt priest in the Camden Diocese. She attended Star of the Sea Elementary School and Holy Spirit High School, both staffed by Sisters of Mercy. She longed to be a sister from her earliest years and was encouraged especially by Sister Mary Leo who taught her at Star of the Sea School. Her love of the ocean and summer by the sea prevailed however, when she delayed her entrance day from August 15 to September 8. In 1937, Sister received the habit and the name Sister Mary Ambrose. Sister earned degrees in mathematics at Georgian Court College and Villanova University. She had always wanted to be a teacher and began that ministry in parish elementary schools in St. Paul School in Princeton, St. Mary School in Camden, St. Philip and James School in Phillipsburg and St. Mary School in South Amboy. In 1975 she was assigned to teach mathematics at St. Mary High School and from there she went to Cathedral High School, Trenton; Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville; Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, and Pius X High School in Piscataway. In 1976 Sister became a math tutor at St. Augustine School in Ocean City and she closed her ministry circle at Star of the Sea where she began her own education. An enthusiastic traveler, Frances toured the United States and Canada and Europe. A meticulous accountant, she also maintained records of all her assignments, travels and various facts and figures of importance in her lifetime. Sister returned to Mount St. Mary in retirement and has resided at McAuley Hall Health Care Center. She is survived by nephew, David Battistini, his wife Sue and their family. Thursday: April 20, 2017 McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, NJ Wake: 1:00 - 2:30 PM Welcome Home Service: 2:00 PM Friday, April 21, 2017 Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 2651 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Wake: 9:00 to 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial: 10:00 AM Burial: Laurel Memorial Park, Tilton Road and English Creek Ave, Egg Harbor Township, NJ Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community 1645 Highway 22 West, Watchung, NJ 07069