NORTH PROVIDENCE — Sister Agnes Begley, a Franciscan Missionary of Mary, died on July 11 at the Fruit Hill Assisted Living Residence. Born in Boston, November 6, 1922, Sister Agnes graduated from Carney School of Nursing and went on to work as a nurse anesthetist. While making adoration in St. Clément’s Shrine, where the FMM were, she felt called to be one. She entered at Fruit Hill, North Providence, on March 16, 1949. She made First Vows in September 1951, and final vows in September 1954, in Ootacamund India where she had been missioned in 1952, after studying midwifery. In Triconopalli, Sister Agnes’ mission was to be in charge of the Midwifery Unit in Child Jesus Hospital until 1954 when she was then missioned to be administrator of Immaculate Conception Convent in Coimbatore, which was a haven for the poor.
Sister Agnes worked in Coimbatore until 1963 when she was missioned to Mylaore, Madras (now called Chennai), India, Sacred Heart Boarding School to be Assistant Warden and nurse. She served there until 1990, when she went on home leave, but with the Gulf War being intense at that time she was advised to delay her return to India. She was instead missioned to Fruit Hill where she volunteered to accompany sisters from the FMM Nursing Center to St. Antoine Residence in North Smithfield. She then served as the coordinator of the community and did pastoral care at the Residence.
In 2002, Sister Agnes was missioned to Fruit Hill where she was a coordinator of Trinity Community and responsible for hospitality, the chapel and bookings for events in Lourdes Hall. Sister Agnes loved to read, knit, watch baseball and walk in nature. She was in touch with her former mission where she spent close to 40 years of her religious life. Lately, Agnes offered her limited health condition, prayers and whole life for the Church and the world and did so gracefully; she was always ready to give her smile and gentle laugh to all especially to those who shared something amusing with her.
Sister Agnes’ Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, July 19, 2018 in Holy Family Chapel, 399 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence, with interment in Holy Family Cemetery. Donations in Sister Agnes’ memory to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, 399 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence, RI, 02911, are greatly appreciated.
