Sisters' Profiles
Sr. La Verne Hincks, fmm
Sr. LaVerne Hincks entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 18, 1945 at North Providence, RI. Her name in religious life was Mary of St. John Berchmans. She continues to be known by the name of John.
After pronouncing her first vows on March 19, 1948, she began studies at Emmanuel College in Boston and graduated in 1952 with a B.A. Major in Chemistry.
Sr. John pronounced her final vows on March 19, 1951. Her ministry until 1953 was community service in St. Clement’s Eucharistic Shrine in Boston. In 1953, she was sent in mission to Moratuwa, Sri Lanka where she served as a teacher and was also in charge of the maintenance workers until 1969.
Sister Elfriede M. Jackson, fmm
Sister Elfriede M. Jackson, fmm was born in River Cess Country, Liberia, She entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 15, 1960 in North Providence as there was no novitiate in Liberia. She pronounced her final vows in Monrovia in 1966. She was sent in mission to Jirapa Hospital in Ghana to study nursing and then returned to Sanaquillie, Liberia to run a clinic. Sent in mission to Coldash, England, she served as a community nurse. She was member of a team of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who started the Coldash Retreat Center. Then, she was sent in mission to Liberia to organize and open a retreat center. During the Liberian civil she was sent to the United States where she served as a member of the novitiate formation team. Presently, she resides in Trinity Community in North Providence where she assists in the FMM Assisted Living Residence and the Fruit Hill Day Program for Elderly.
Sr. Anna Tarnauskas, fmm
Sr. Anna Tarnauskas entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on March 14, 1951 in North Providence, RI. Prior to her entering the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, she had completed her studies in Mercy School of Nursing and qualified as a registered nurse. After pronouncing her first vows on September 17, 1953, Sr. Ann was sent in mission to St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, LI. serving as a staff nurse there until 1967. She pronounced her final vows on September 17, 1956. Throughout her religious life her ministry has been that of nursing in various health care settings both in Africa and in the United States.
Sr. Frances Milano, fmm
Sister Frances Milano, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Sept. 18, 1951 in North Providence. She pronounced her First Vows March 19, 1954 and her Final Vows March 19, 1957. Prior to her entry she had work experience as a receptionist and aide to a veterinarian and 8 1/2 years as clerk/teletype operator and relief manager for The Western Union Telegraph Company. This latter job entailed extensive travel throughout the United States. After she received “God’s Call”, prior to entering at Fruit Hill, Frances went on a Holy Year pilgrimage to several western European countries.
Her first mission sending was to San Francisco where she was bursar, librarian and the supervisor of young women residents. Frances was missioned to Peru and set sail in February 1958. lquitos on the Amazon was the site of her first work in Peru, teaching English. Later, she was sent to Chile, San Vicente de Tagua Tagua, where she filled a number of positions: English teacher, commissioner, bookstore clerk, and Novice Mistress. Throughout her religious life, Frances has served in various ministries: community and provincial leadership, novice directress, translator, hospital volunteer. Sent in mission to Holy Family Community in North Providence, she serves in community service wherever there is a need.
Sr. Aline Giroux, fmm
Sr. Aline Giroux, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on March 15, 1952 In North Providence and pronounced her Final Vows September 17, 1959. Most of Sr. Aline's ministries have been in the health care field. After obtaining her license as an R.N. she did staff nursing in St. Louis and North Providence. Then she was sent to St. Francis Cardiac Hospital in Long Island where she was the assistant supervisor in the operating room, followed by serving as administrative assistant in charge of four hospital departments. After completing studies leading to an MBA, she became the assistant administrator of St. Francis Hospital, Long Island. Sister has served in administration in facilities in the United States and in Africa. Her present ministries are Director of the Fruit Hill Day Services and serving on the Board of Directors for Franciscan Children's Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Brighton and the Board of the Fruit Hill Day Services for the Elderly.
Sr. Margaret Lois Houlihan , fmm
Sr. Margaret Lois Houlihan entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on March 16, 1947, in the 45th St. New York convent. She made her First Vows on Sept.17, 1949, and Final Vows on Sept. 17, 1952 in North Providence. Throughout her religious life she has had diverse ministries: as a linotype operator in The FMM Printing Press, music director, composer, Montessori teacher in the St Raphael Nursery, Bell St; Certified Nursing Assistant in St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, MA. She was sent in mission to St. Teresa High School in Monrovia, Liberia, and also taught in the university and was the music director. She served in chaplaincy to higher government institutions in Kumasi, Ghana. In the USA, she served as the coordinator for Brooklyn Homeless Program and gave Music-imagery therapy in Francis House for persons suffering with AIDS. She volunteered in a child care facility and at St. Francis Center in Providence, RI. Her current ministry is librarian for the communities at Fruit Hill.
