Sr. Marie Chang, OSF

Sister Marie Chang, O.S.F., 94, of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, died on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at 7:45 a.m. at St. Francis Convent, Springfield, Illinois. Sister Marie, the former Filomina (Chinese name: Shih Min) Chang, was born in Beijing, China on January 21, 1924, the daughter of Lawrence and Elizabeth Wong Chang. She entered the Congregation on October 8, 1945, and professed her religious vows on October 4, 1948, in Chowtsun, China. Sister Marie ministered as a nurse at St. Johns Hospital, Springfield, Illinois, after concluding her studies in China and the United States. During her lifetime, she served at various HSHS hospitals and spent many of these years at HSHS St. Marys Hospital in Decatur, Illinois, where she shared her talents in various hospital departments. In 1949, Sister Marie, along with other native Chinese Sisters who were members of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, came to the United States because of civil strife in China. In time, all of these Sisters became American citizens. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Peter, Paul, and Joseph Chang; and three sisters, Teresa Chang, Sister Agatha Chang, and Sister Mary Louise Chang. She is survived by a niece, Janet Chang of Austin, Texas; and one nephew, Jia Kai, of Beijing, China; as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for more than 72 years. Visitation: 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 23, 2018, at St. Francis Convent with a Wake Service at 6:00 p.m. Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 24, 2018, in St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent with Father Andre Schludecker, OFM, celebrant. Burial will be in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery.