Springfield Dominican Sister Mary Frances Gorman, OP, died Sunday, June 20, 2021, at Sacred Heart Convent.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 24, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel in Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service. Visitors are welcome and masks are required. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. at the chapel with Dominican Father Michael DeTemple, celebrant, officiating. Mass and graveside services will be livestreamed at https://springfieldop.org/sister-mary-fran-gorman-op/. Cremation will be provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center. The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister Gorman are being served by Butler Funeral Home in Springfield.
Sister Gorman, who for a time was known as Sister Thomas Mary, gave the first 16 years of her religious life to teaching primary students at Illinois’ Catholic schools in Mendota, Jacksonville, Morrisonville, Mt. Sterling and Maryville, and then eighth grade at Evergreen Park. In 1986, she shifted to pastoral ministry, first as Director of Religious Education (DRE) and liturgist in Glen Carbon from 1986 to 1991, then at the religious education center in Arcola.
In 1993, she became a pastoral associate at St. Therese Parish in Jackson, MS. In 1997 she returned to Springfield and assisted in the computer lab at Cathedral and then at Sacred Heart Griffin, where for three years she assisted in the computer lab and taught theology part-time while developing her interest in the creative arts. From 2001 until 2018, when her health required a step back from active ministry, she was the resident potter at Jubilee Farm in New Berlin and enjoyed creating and nurturing creativity in others. She taught classes at the Springfield Art Association, and was a dedicated past president and member of the Dominican Institute for the Arts.
She is survived by her sisters, Nancy (Ray) Bagley/Gorman and Virginia (Paul) Ledesma; brothers, Thomas (Theresa), David (Dzintra), Harry (Connie), Jay, Don (Jana), Joe and Bob (Gwen); and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, John.
Memorials to honor the memory of Sister Mary Fran may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704.
Online condolences may be left at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com.
