Obituary of Sr. Mary Shaun Franey

Sister Mary Shaun Franey  Sister of Mercy

Sister Mary Shaun Franey, age 93, died peacefully on  June 30, 2017 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey.  Sister Mary Shaun was one of three daughters and a son of John and Mary Franey. Their children were born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, where they attended St. Joseph School and Hamilton High School. Sister Shaun and her sister Mary (deceased ) both entered the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Shaun entered in 1945 and was professed in 1948 where she was assigned to teach history at St. Mary High School in Perth Amboy. Educationally she earned degrees at both Georgian Court University and Villanova University, majoring in social studies and American history.

Sister Mary Shaun was among the first faculty members assigned to Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville in 1957 and continued to teach history there until she was appointed registrar at Georgian Court University in Lakewood. Sister also served as a professor of history until 1972. Then she was assigned to teach at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung and Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill. Returning to Georgian Court University in 1981, she served as assistant registrar and continued teaching as a professor of history.

During her years at Camden Catholic and Georgian Court, Sister Shaun was joined by her sister Mary. They were a team often seen together visiting the sick, the homebound and walking in the neighborhoods near their convents. Citing their Mercy history in 19th century Dublin, where the Sisters of Mercy were called the “walking nuns,” Sister Shaun pointed out, in an article in the Asbury Park Press in 2001, that they walked for exercise and to be visible in the community.

In 2004 Sister Shaun returned to Mount St. Mary as a retired volunteer and resided there until she joined her sister at McAuley Health Care Center.

She is survived by devoted nephews/nieces Irene Clarici(deceased ), Kathy and William Seaman,  Jeff Wilburt, Gene and Sharon Clarici, and Meg Leone.

Visitation will take place at St. Catherine of Siena Chapel, Mc Auley Hall, Watchung, NJ 07069 on July 6, 2017 from 9:00am until 10:30am.  Followed by a Welcome Home Service at 10:30 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am
Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Trenton, NJ
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, Mid=Atlantic Community
1645 Highway 22 West, Watchung, NJ  07069