OBITUARY

Sister Helen Anna Klumpp, F.M.M

Posted

NORTH SMITHFIELD — Sister Helen Anna Klumpp, Franciscan Missionary of Mary (Sister Theneva) of Ein Karim Community, died on November 13, 2018, at St. Antoine Residence, in North Smithfield.

Sister Klumpp was born January 30, 1910, in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. From age 5 Helen took violin lessons and became an accomplished violinist. After attending high school, Sister Klumpp entered the FMM Pre-Novitiate on June 12, 1935, and the Novitiate that same year on December 15. She made temporary profession in December 1937 and Final Vows, the same day in 1940. Prior to that, Sister Klumpp received her LPN in 1938 in Roslyn, New York, St. Francis Hospital and then became a Medical Technician in 1940, a profession she served in at St. Francis until 1959. She was then missioned to Kennedy Memorial Hospital Community in Brighton, Massachusetts, where she was receptionist, sacristan, worked in the vestry and was a liturgist for the Third Order Secular Franciscans helping them with liturgies and music.

Sister Klumpp was a very sociable person and related well to the young as well as people of all ages. During the summer season, she served as a life guard at Grace Haven, the Province vacation house, using her skill in swimming. She also occasionally used her dancing talents and entertained all with her Charleston.

In 1975, Sister Klumpp was missioned to St. Francis Community in San Francisco, serving again as a receptionist. Then Helen was sent on mission to the Navajo people at St. Michael’s Arizona from 1978 to 1980. Her next mission was North Providence, Fruit Hill, as receptionist, a CCD teacher and sacristan. In Brighton, Massachusetts she did these same works. Missioned again to North Providence, she worked in the infirmary and the Elder Day Care Center until 1998 when her ministry became prayer for the world. She continued to be a presence in Queen of Peace Community in the Assisted Living until April 2005 when her last mission was to Ein Karim Community at St. Antoine’s Residence. She has remained there until now.

Sister Klumpp always loved music and reading, especially spiritual books and those about Mary, Our Blessed Mother, to whom she prayed often and talked about to others. She was well-noted for saying, after having a birthday of 100: “I am almost 101 and still can think and speak as well as read without glasses.”

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018 in Holy Family Chapel, North Providence, with burial in Holy Family Cemetery.