Sister Anna Clare McDermott 1903-1995

MCDERMOTT, URBAIN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/6/2016 at 19:07:12

BANKSTON, Iowa - Sister Anna Clare McDermott, OSF, 92, of Alverno Convent, Clinton, formerly of Bankston, died at 8:50 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, 1995, at Samaritan North Hospital, Clinton.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Mount St. Clare Chapel, Clinton, where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today. Burial will be in St. Irenaus Cemetery, Clinton. The Cannon Funeral Home, Clinton, is in charge of arrangements.

Sister Anna Clare was born July 31, 1903, in Placid, the youngest of 13 children of Michael C. and Mary (Urbain) McDermott. She was baptized Elizabeth on Aug. 2, 1903, at St. John's Church, Placid. She had seven brothers, James, Francis, Michael, Edward, Matthias, Ambrose and Vincent; and five sisters, Mary, Priscilla, Delia, Anna (Sister Matthias) and Beatrice, all of whom are deceased.

She attended St. John's Elementary School, Placid, and St. Clement's High School, Bankston.

She entered the Sisters of St. Francis Sept. 24, 1932, and received the name Anna Clare at her reception on April 17, 1933. She made her first profession of vows June 19, 1935, and her final profession of vows June 19, 1938. Her novitiate classmates were Sisters Mary of the Angels Klein, Camilla Klein and Mary Ann Wells.

She graduated from Mount St. Clare Academy in 1940, received her associate of arts degree from Mount St. Clare College in 1950. She obtained her bachelors of education degree from St. Ambrose College, Davenport, in 1957, and did further study at DePaul University, Chicago.

Sister Anna Clare spent most of her active ministry working with children in primary grades. Her first mission was at Delmar. She taught at St. Patrick's School, Clinton, the following year. Another of her early assignments was at St. Francis de Paula School, Chicago, where she spent 23 years, from 1937-60. During her last six years there, she served as principal. She also was principal at St. Gerald's School, Oak Lawn, Ill., for six years. Other missions on which she served were Denison, Iowa, and Sunset Hills, Mo. From 1960-64 she was stationed at Mount St. Clare, where she served for two years as convent director and then as director of novices for the Clinton Franciscans.

Sister Anna Clare retired to Mount St. Clare Convent in 1983 and moved to Alverno Convent in 1991.

Surviving are many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorials may be given to Mount St. Clare Convent, Clinton.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, October 22, 1995