Sr. Mary Frances Martin

Martin, Sister Mary Frances (Cleta), a member of the Congregation St. Joseph died Saturday, September 22, 2012. She was 96 years old. The second of four children of Francis and Clara (Dotts) Martin, Sister Mary Frances was born July 11, 1916 in Haviland, KS and received her elementary and high school education in Pratt where family later moved. On March 19, 1937 she was received into the Congregation of St. Joseph in Wichita, Kansas where she was given the religious name of Sister Mary Cleta. Changes in religious life gave her the opportunity to return to her baptismal name Frances. She attended St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City and Sacred Heart College in Wichita. Her Master’s degree was from St. Mary’s College in Xavier, KS An educator, she taught in Catholic elementary schools in St. Paul, Wright, Florence, Claflin, Wichita, Hutchinson, Pittsburg, Kansas City and Ft. Scott in Kansas as well as Perry, OK, and Hayward, CA. She also taught outreach for St. Mary of the Plains College in Garden City, KS for a time. In 1992 she retired to Wichita and made her home in Marian Hall at the Wichita Center for the Congregation of St. Joseph. In addition to members of her religious community, she is survived by 6 nephews and 4 nieces.

The Wake Service is Mon. Sept. 24 at 7pm; the Mass of Christian burial on Tuesday at 4pm Sept. 25, both at the Wichita Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sisters of St. Joseph Dear Neighbor Ministries, Inc., 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218.