60th First Profession
Sister Patricia Ann Meyer
Birthplace: Fremont, Ohio
Entrance: 1961
First profession: 1964
Final profession: 1967
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Marillac College, St. Louis
Master’s degree, Saint Louis University
Certificate in spiritual direction, The Institute for Spiritual Leadership, Chicago, Illinois
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Louis, 1965-70
Principal, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Louis, 1975-81
Principal, Transfiguration School, St. Louis, 1981-85
Retired, Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, Shrewsbury, 2023
Service outside the archdiocese: Principal, St. Mary School, Clyde, Ohio, 1985-92
Principal, St. Richard School, Swanton, Ohio, 1992-95
Program director, Franciscan Renewal Center, Carey, Ohio, 1995-2002
Director of religious education, St. Peter Parish, Huron, Ohio, 2002-10
Spiritual director, Retreat Director, Hospice Volunteer, Sandusky and Huron, Ohio, 2010-22
About Sister Patricia Ann Meyer: Sister Patricia Ann’s love of meeting and helping people has been a key component of her ministry as teacher, principal, spiritual director, and volunteer. She continues to be “most grateful to God for her Franciscan vocation and for the love, commitment, and friendship of her Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.” Sister believes that it is through her community that she has grown in mind, heart, and spirit every day of her life. Sister Patricia Ann is also grateful for the friendship and love of those whom she was privileged to serve.
75th First Profession
Sister Francine Fontana
Birth name: Mary Antonia
Birthplace: Monroe, Louisiana
Entrance: 1946
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1952
Education: Bachelor’s in education, Webster College, St. Louis
Master’s in administration, Saint Louis University
Library science certification, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, Louisiana
Service in the archdiocese: Domestic, St. Louis Prep Seminary, 1949-51
Teacher, St. Adalbert School, 1951-54
Principal, St. Pius X School, 1965-70
Principal, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, 1985-86
Franciscan Sisters Leadership Team and Local Leader, 1985-96
Director of retirement, Mother of Perpetual Help, 196-2000
Receptionist, Mary, Queen and Mother and Mother of Perpetual Help Residence, 2000-07
Sacristan and receptionist, Regina Cleri, 2007-13
Retired, 2013
Service outside the archdiocese: Principal, St. Thomas Aquinas School, Ruston, Louisiana, 1954-65
Teacher, Our Lady of Fatima, Monroe, Louisiana, 1970-74
Principal, St. Joseph School, Bastrop, Louisiana, 1974-80
Principal, St. Mary School, Clyde, Ohio, 1980-85
About Sister Francine Fontana: In her retirement, Sister Francine continues to enjoy arts and crafts and has a ready smile to greet everyone she meets. Throughout her ministry, she served in her own quiet way joyfully and without reservation. This was evidenced when Sister Francine was awarded the Cardinal Rigali Service Award in 2010 for her selfless work with the retired priests at Regina Cleri in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Her example of faithfulness to God’s call to religious life can be summed up in her own words, “My first interest is to love God with all my being through daily words and deeds.”
Sister Grace Koszela
Birth name: Genevieve Mary
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1946
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1952
Education: Bachelor’s in education, St. Mary’s College, Omaha, Nebraska
Master’s in education, Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado
Service in the archdiocese: Domestic, St. Louis Prep Seminary, 1949-50
Teacher, St. Adalbert School, 1950-53
Teacher, St. Francis of Assisi School, 1953-55
Teacher, St. Casimir School, 1960-61
Principal, Our Lady of Guadalupe, 1986-87
Teacher, St. Rose of Lima School, 1987-92
Teacher, St. Francis School, 1994-95
Parish visitor, St. Francis Parish, 1995-96
Retired, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Residence, St. Louis, 2008
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. John the Baptist, West Frankfort, Illinois, 1955-56
Teacher, Little Flower Academy, Monroe, Louisiana, 1956-57
Teacher, St. Francis DePaula School, Tularosa, New Mexico, 1957-60
Teacher, St. Francis of Assisi, Omaha, Nebraska, 1961-68
Principal, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Trinidad, Colorado, 1968-74, 1980-81
Teacher, Daniel J. Gross High School, Omaha, Nebraska, 1974-75
Principal, St. Joseph School, Chicago Heights, Illinois, 1975-78
Teacher, Sacred Heart of Mary School, Weirton, West Virginia, 1978-79
Teacher, St. Luke School, Stockton, California, 1979-80
Principal, St. Albert the Great School, Fairview Heights, Illinois, 1981-83
Teacher, Bishop Hay School, Alamogordo, New Mexico, 1983-84
Teacher, Mary Help of Christians, Fairborn, Ohio, 1984-85
Principal, St. James School, Montague, Michigan, 1985-86
Principal, St. Ann School, Nashville, Illinois, 1992-94
Parish visitor, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Ursula Mission, Westover, West Virginia, 1996-99
Parish visitor, St. Patrick and Assumption and St. Peter, Mannington, West Virginia, 1999-2006
Pastoral associate, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Proctor, West Virginia, 2002-08
About Sister Grace Koszela: Throughout her life, Sister Grace thoroughly enjoyed reading and playing games that stimulated the brain. Approaching her 100th birthday, she continues to delight in visiting with her Sisters in community and other residents at the retirement facility. Pondering her retirement and her approaching 100th year of life Sister Grace reflected, “This time allows me to enjoy quiet times that are mine to be with the Lord.”
