Sr. Claire Napoleon, Fmm

Sr. Claire Jacqueline Napoleon, FMM, 80 of Ein Karim Community, N. Smithfield, RI, died on Aug. 18, 2015 at St. Antoine's Residence N. Smithfield, RI.Born in Brooklyn, NY on Jan, 18, 1930, Sr. Claire was the daughter of the late Charles Francis Napoleon and Sybil Louise (Rogers) Napoleon.Sister Claire entered the Institute of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 15, 1960 at North Providence and pronounced her final vows, March 19, 1969 at North Providence, RI.After pronouncing her final Vows, Sr. Claire was missioned to O.L.of the Eucharist Community in Brighton, MA with a ministry as a nurse aide and an X-ray technician at Kennedy Memorial Hospital now known as Franciscan Hospital for Children.In 1965, she was missioned to McMahon Child Care Shelter in Harlem, NY. where she served as a child care worker.After completing her MSW studies at Columbia University School of Social Work, she ministered in New York City as an adoption social worker in a Black Child Caring Agency as a foster care social worker with a high ratio of Spanish- speaking families and as a child care worker in a Children's Shelter.In 1980, she did an Emmaus Renewal Program in Grottaferrata, Italy at the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary residence. Upon her return to the United States in 1981, Sister Claire was sent in mission to Emmaus Community, in North Providence to minister as a Coordinator in the Diocesan Catholic Social Services. In addition, she ministered to Southeast Asian Unaccompanied Minors, all of whom were from Cambodia. She held the position as coordinator and supervisor of the program since its inception in December of 1981 at Catholic Social Services. Claire's international experience helped in this ministry with the youth, which was a highlight of her life.From 1986 to 2001 Sister served as the Director of Social Services and as a social worker, in McMahon and in Divine Providence Shelter in Manhattan, NY. She also served as a provincial councilor. While Sr. Claire was never missioned abroad, she traveled extensively in the United States in connection with her ministries and even traveled to the refugee camps in Thailand. In 2005 she was sent in mission to Holy Family Community as the co-director of financial services. Declining health necessitated her admission in 2010 to St. Antoine's Residence where she died peacefully August 18, 2015.Visiting hours will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Monday, August 24, 2015, with a Wake Service at 7 p.m., in the Holy Family Chapel, 399 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence; Funeral Mass at Holy Family Chapel, on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. Funeral arrangements by Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home. www.boyleandsonfuneralhome.com