2026 Jubilarian Celebrating 80 Years
Mary Frances Gallagher was born in June of 1927 to Irish immigrant parents who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up in a small family, having one sibling, her sister Ann. She went to high school at Little Flower Catholic High School. After graduation she went to work as an Assembler at Whitman’s Chocolate candy factory. A few of her close girlfriends at the time decided to enter religious life and Mary Frances joined them. Shortly thereafter, the friends, however, decided that religious life was not for them, but Mary Frances continued, and here we are 80 years later!
Her first assignment as a Novice in the 1940’s was in Mobile, Alabama at a mission caring for impoverished individuals and families. She served there for many years and says that it was very hard work, but was always thankful for being there. Later, she was assigned to serve in adoption services in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. There she was a record keeper and interviewed families who were interested in adopting children who were in foster care. Sr. Mary Frances served in this capacity for many years, during the period in which technology resources were evolving. She was involved and on board with the department’s transition to computerized record keeping that was far more efficient.
Sr. Mary Frances always thought of herself as not fitting a stereotypical image of a nun or sister. She was light-hearted and playful, known to play simple jokes on the Sisters she was living with in community. She cherished times with her nieces and nephews, and remembers playing games with them during the years she lived on Summer Street next to the Cathedral. They would play games outside and in the basement, get special treats like ice cream and Coca-Cola from the giant kitchen and ride up and down the elevators. Sr. Mary Francis even gave them rides in the big laundry carts in basement, wheeling them around like race cars. It was also a special, occasional treat for them to sleep over in the empty Infirmary. The family was invited to visit during the many Philadelphia parades on the parkway, and even got to see and wave to the Pope during his official Philadelphia visit through the 4th floor window. Sr. Mary Frances called her beloved nieces and nephews, “My dearest, fairest and rarest of them all,” and says no one corrected her because clearly she was right, and after all she was a sister!
Sr. Mary Frances had beautiful handwriting, and was selected by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to handwrite, in calligraphy, the names, months and years on the Certificates of Ordination each year. She was known get the morning newspaper and deliver it throughout the convent daily. She read the paper from front to back, keeping up with current events, always ready to discuss government and politics, and seeking to see things from multiple perspectives. She enjoys playing board games, Sudoku and Connect Four. Around the Motherhouse in Philadelphia, she enjoyed staying busy, often restoring old furniture and varnishing Sister’s bedroom doors. She loved all things Irish, tracing her family tree roots back decades and being able to play any Irish tune on her harmonica. She is an avid reader of historical books, especially by Irish authors and enjoys listening to lectures. She was also known to make the best day after Thanksgiving Turkey Soup and Turkey Crockets.
She has given her life to help others for 80 years, as she is to this day, a blessing to her family and the the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity. We are thankful to God, to those friends from the Whitman Chocolate factory who led her to our community, and to Sr. Mary Frances for these 80 years of faithful service.