SINSINAWA — Sr. Mary Frances Lennartz, OP, died April 5, 2016, at St. Dominic Villa. Her religious name was Sr. Marie Anne. Natural burial took place April 6, 2016, in the Motherhouse Cemetery. The funeral Mass was held in the Gathering Place at Sinsinawa Wednesday, April 13, 2016.
Sr. Mary Frances made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1944, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1947. She taught for 15 years and served as librarian/audio-visual director for 30 years, pastoral minister for 15 years, support staff for one year and assistant director of the Dominican Education Center for two years. Sr. Mary Frances served in Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma as well as Trinidad and Tobago.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sr. Mary Frances ministered as assistant director at Dominican Education Center, Sinsinawa, 1977-1979.
Sr. Mary Frances was born March 31, 1923, in Chicago, the daughter of George and Anna (McGrath) Lennartz. Her parents; stepmother, Louise Lennartz; and a brother, George Lennartz, preceded her in death. She is survived by a sister, Sr. Constance Lennartz; a stepsister, Bernice Santilli; nephews; and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 71 years.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 CR Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate Now,” then “Honor and Memorial Gift.”
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Mary Frances are available online at www.Sinsinawa.org/live. Click on the “on demand” tab.