In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Frances Eugene, CSC
(Mary Frances Boydston)
Birth: January 13, 1917
Profession: February 2, 1937
Death: April 16, 2006

When some of us gathered Easter Sunday afternoon to pray with Frances in her room, there was a strong sense of Resurrection peace and joy. Frances seemed to arrange this last vigil as she did all things: quietly, graciously and with great dignity. Her thoughtfulness precluded her interrupting the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week, the Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday Mass. Nor did she want to interrupt the festive Easter dinner before taking leave of us. At her bedside as we awaited the arrival of some of her friends, Sister Joy suggested that we sing a song. We began almost simultaneously “Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed are you among women.” These words must have echoed clearly in the ears and heart of Frances, for her countenance changed visibly to one of radiant joy. At the words “now and at the hour of our death,” Frances breathed her final “Amen,” an “Amen” to all that has been these 89 years of her life, these nearly 72 years in the family of Holy Cross.

Mary Frances, the daughter of Everett and Frances Elizabeth Boydston, was born in Oakland, Nebraska, in 1917. Sharing family life with her were her brother John, who survives her in North Carolina, and her sister Martha, who is deceased. Frances obtained her early education at Saint Patrick’s Academy in Sidney, Nebraska, until the family moved to Ogallala where Frances went to the public school. Mr. Boydston’s employment with the telephone company occasioned transfers and the family relocated in Fresno, California, where, to the delight of Mrs. Boydston, the children were able to attend a Catholic school, Saint John’s Academy, where the Sisters of the Holy Cross taught. Among Frances’ teachers was Sister Leona (Knickerbocker), who counseled Frances when she made known her interest in a religious vocation. An interesting coincidence occurred during Frances’ freshman year at the academy. When writing an English assignment made by Sister Patricianne McGinnis, also from Nebraska, she mentioned Saint Patrick’s Academy in Sidney. Sister Patricianne eagerly made known that her sister was a member of the religious faculty there. From Saint John’s senior class of 1934 Frances and three other young women entered Saint Mary’s Novitiate: Sisters Marilyn Boomer, Joseph Ann Kacerak and Isabel Pimental. The following year Sister Olivia Marie joined her high school friends in Holy Cross.

In addition to her brother, Sister Frances is survived by two nephews, Stephen and Thomas Timsak of California, sons of her sister Martha. Martha died when the boys were very young. The family encouraged their father Richard to remarry. In God’s loving providence Dick and Stephanie met and married; they provided a loving, supportive home in which they reared the boys. Frances often visited them in Fresno; before her journey here to Saint Mary’s, Dick and Stephanie came to see her in Ventura.

Frances’ entire life exemplified great virtue. Her quiet, gentle manner radiated joy and a “twinkle in her eye” sense of humor, which evoked many joyful moments. Her life-long deep appreciation of nature fostered her spiritual growth. She treasured the Rocky Mountains where her family enjoyed camping trips during summer months, the California giant sequoias near Fresno, the mighty palms in Ventura and the serenity of the great Pacific Ocean. For her these were special contacts with the Creator. Her many years of daily walking a portion of El Camino Real, as she faithfully went from San Buenaventura Mission Convent to Saint Catherine by the Sea, served her well as she continued to discover God’s beauty, ultimately experienced here at Saint Mary’s, now fully embraced in heaven.

Outstanding among her virtues were Frances’ unlimited service and availability to others. Her ministries of teaching and of accounting were characterized by an imperturbable, patient response no matter when or what the requests, even in the midst of totaling a long column of figures or verifying charges for long distance phone calls. Her confident transition from one duty to the next was seamless in its faith dimension.

On Easter Sunday she completed her earthly portion of the Paschal Mystery; in this as in all else, with joyful fidelity she humbly proclaimed once more, “Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will!”

Written by Sister Patricia Ann Thompson, CSC

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry With the Poor Fund, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.