Sister Frances Kempenich

Little Falls, Minnesota............Sister Frances Kempenich, 97, died on July 22, 2022, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn.

Frances Genevieve Kempenich was born on May 18, 1925, to Joseph and Frances (Simones) Kempenich in Randall, Minn. She was the sixth of 10 children. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister on August 12, 1942 and received the name Sister Mary Matthew. She later reverted to her baptismal name. She made first profession of vows on August 12, 1944, and final vows on August 12, 1947. She was a Franciscan Sister for 79 years.

Sister Frances attended grade school in Randall and graduated from St. Francis High School. She studied Spanish at the Intercultural Formation Center, Cuernavaca, Mexico, and learned drawing and pottery at the University of Minnesota, Morris, Minn.

Sister Frances served as missionary, housekeeper, cook, cottage mother, parish visitor, counselor and personal care attendant. She ministered in St. Cloud, Elk River, Little Falls, Princeton, Breckenridge, St. Paul, Baudette and Pierz, Minn., and Peru, South America.

Known to everyone as Sister Fran, she was an "all-around-sort-of-person" who had many talents. She was creative in candle-making and produced beautiful, original pieces of pottery. She was very dedicated to serving others, especially the elderly and handicapped. She was the personal care assistant to Sister Mary Schuman for 23 years.

Sister Frances was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Marguerite Larson, LeRoy, George, Sister Veronica, OSF, Joe, Gertrude Thesing, Jerry, Jim and Raymond.
She is survived by sisters-in-law, Marie Drew of Randall and Pat Kempenich of Pine City, 48 nieces and nephews, and many, many grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews and her Franciscan Community.

Receiving of the body of Sister Frances will be held on Thursday, July 28 at 9 a.m., followed by visitation until the time of the funeral at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minnesota. Masks are required. Mass will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiyFvZ53PAfd1apBC88kEuQ.

Arrangements are by Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service, Little Falls.

Donations to Franciscan Sisters ministries preferred.