July 7, 1935–September 16, 2020
July 7, 1935–September 16, 2020Florence Denny was the daughter of Thomas and Ida Fassnacht Denny. St. Boniface Parish in Philadelphia, where her parents married, was the parish in which she received all her sacraments, and it was the parish from which she entered.
Florence was a member of the MCA, and worked as a legal secretary. At the age of 22 she entered on February 2, 1957, and took the name Sr. Jeanne Margaret of the Passion of Jesus. After professing first vows, she continued in the Juniorate and remained at the Motherhouse for three additional years after completing her studies to provide much-needed clerical support for Sr. Jean Anthony in the fund development office. She wrote about what it was like to remain at the Motherhouse while her classmates were sent off to other missions. She seemed to be slightly sheepish about the fact that she loved her mission. She said, “I have had the privilege of working with the best: Sisters Marie Celine, Joseph Miriam, William Mary, and Jean Anthony. Truly, if by the grace of God I do not become a better religious for having been with them, then I have only myself to blame!”
Sister Jeanne Margaret’s next two missions were in New York parishes: eight years in Rego Park, and six in Richmond Hill. This was followed by eight years in Long Island City, four years as Director of Health Care at the Motherhouse, and then a total of 24 years at St. Rose of Lima and at St. Francis Xavier parishes in Philadelphia. Her last mission before coming to the Motherhouse was bereavement ministry with Dinan Funeral Home.
Although almost her entire religious life was spent in parish ministry, the work she did in those parishes was diverse. She created a “Headstart for God” program. She initiated a parish newsletter. She was a CCD coordinator. She worked with developmentally disabled. She managed a variety of material assistance programs. She visited the homebound and also arranged for services for them. In true Missionary Servant fashion, she developed a missionary spirit in the laity by engaging volunteers in so many of her ministries. One of her crowning achievements was the establishment of an outreach for the elderly, sick and homebound of Holy Child Jesus Parish. She recruited and trained forty parishioners to follow up on those she visited to continue her outreach.
We often get attached to our missions and are reluctant to leave. It appears that Sister’s missions got attached to her, and in her file are heartfelt appeals to the General Custodian not to move Sr. Jeanne Margaret. One such letter from 1974 should be shared: “We are the parents of Mary Joy, a mentally retarded child in Sister’s program. Sr. Jeanne Margaret prepared Mary Joy for First Holy Communion last year. We can’t thank her enough for realizing for us a dream we never thought would come true.” The letter is one Father Judge would be proud of, who said to us “I place before you the souls of the thousands of children who will owe their salvation to your zeal and charity.”
Sister’s prayerful regard for her Missionary Servant sisters is reflected in a multitude of short letters in her file. It appears that her monthly finance report often included a supportive little letter, often on colorful cards or nice stationary. The notes reveal that Sr. Jeanne Margaret was holding our sisters in prayer. She was tuned in to the beauty of the changing seasons, and to the liturgical seasons as well.
In an undated letter to a General Councilor, she shared a personal note her own mother had written her years before. It is a powerful message of love, and a powerful prayer that we can share in right now. Ida Denny wrote to her daughter, “May God always protect you and keep you close in his arms as you are today. I ask God that you may always be true to the vows you make to Him, so that you will pass from His arms on earth to your eternal rest in His arms in Heaven.”
Today we can be assured that her mother’s prayers were answered. Sister expressed in her request for final vows her fervent desire to bring others to a greater love of God. We can say thanks to God for the life of Sister Jeanne Margaret of the Passion of Jesus, Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity.
May she rest in peace.