Friday, January 18, 2013

Sr. Franzita Kane's 104th Birthday

Sunday is the 104th anniversary of the birth of my friend and mentor, Sr. Franzita Kane CSC. She was a professor of mine 1968-70 at St. Mary's College when I was a student at the University of Notre Dame. I (and many others!) thank God for Sr. Franzita's life!


This obit was published in the Deseret News on December 19. 1993.

Distinguished Educator, Sister M. Franzita (Dorothy Honore) Kane, C.S.C., died December 1, 1993 of natural causes at St. Mary's Convent in Notre Dame, Indiana. Sister Franzita Kane was born on January 20, 1909 in Idaho, daughter of Thomas Francis Kane (b. Pueblo, Colorado) and Elizabeth (Olsen) Kane (b. Mink Creek, Idaho). She attended Catholic schools in Park City, Utah and Salt Lake City, Utah and graduated from St. Mary's of the Wasatch (high school) in 1926. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1927 and took her final vows August 15, 1930. She received her Bachelors of Arts in 1942 from Immaculate Heart College, her Masters of Arts in 1952 from Catholic University, and her PhD in 1958 from the University of Notre Dame.

She taught English in Catholic secondary schools from 1930 through 1950, served as principal at St. Mary's of the Wasatch from 1947 through 1950. She was an instructor, Department of English, at Dunbarton College in Washington, D.C. in 1953. She began teaching as a professor, Department of English at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1960 and served as chairman of the department. She retired from full-time teaching in 1975. She was much beloved by her students for her wit and for demanding the best from her pupils. Her academic career included founding the Sister Madeleva Poetry Association, writing and publishing poetry, as well as editing numerous publications, participating in professional and educational organizations. She traveled extensively to Europe for research and continuing educational studies. She is listed in "Who's Who in American Education.”

Sr. Franzita is survived by six nieces and one nephews, many grand nieces and nephews.

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