Sr. Elfriede Jackson, FMM

Sr. Elfriede was born August 24, 1934 in Rivercess County, Liberia, West Africa, the fourth child to her father, Samuel, an accountant and her mother, Martha, a homemaker. Elfriede was educated at St. Theresa’s Convent by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, although her family belonged to the Church of England. After living as a border with the sisters for five years, Elfriede felt drawn to them and their way of prayer and caring for others. She thought that if they could do this for her people, she could do the same for her own people.

After becoming a Catholic, sometime later, Elfriede entered the FMM. Since there was no novitiate in Liberia, it was arranged that she should enter Holy Family Novitiate in North Providence, RI. She did so in September, 1960. She pronounced her First Vows in Monrovia in 1963 and was then missioned to study nursing Jirapa Hospital in Ghana, West Africa and after to Liberia to run a clinic where she remained for six years. While there she made her Final Vows in 1966.

In 1978, Elfriede was sent in mission to England where she served as community nurse in the Infirmary of St. Gabriel’s in Coldash, England, serving the needs of forty sisters there. After four years, she was sent with five other sisters to begin a retreat center in Liberia. During that time she had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land, take a biblical course and to attend a renewal course in Franciscan Spirituality in Rome. Elfriede found this a most rewarding and grace-filled experience.

The Liberian Civil War took a great toll on Elfriede. She recalls running from one place to another and people seeking food and shelter in the convent compound. Several members of her family were killed. When the five members of the Sisters of the Precious Blood there were murdered, things became overwhelming and Elfriede was given a time of respite. She was then missioned to the US Province. In 1993, she was sent to help in the FMM Novitiate in Fall River, MA. After some years there, she was missioned to the Provincial House in the Bronx where she helped in the house and looked after hospitality.

Her health condition brought her to Trinity community in North Providence and that is where she was part of the Assisted Living Residence at Fruit Hill. Elfriede cared for others in a quiet, gentle way by her questions and interest in them. She smiled and laughed easily and very often wished to know what is happening around her. She was prayerful always. Elfriede was later missioned to St. Antoine’s Residence in September, 2020 where she lived until December 20th, 2023, when she died peacefully.

Sister Elfriede's visitation will be held at the FMM Chapel, 399 Fruit Hill Ave. N. Providence, on Wednesday, January 3 from 4 to 7 PM. Sister's Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 4 in the FMM Chapel. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.