Sister Grace Ball, OP, (formerly Sister Marie Francine) of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Ossining, N.Y, died Dec. 12, 2015 at Wartburg, Mount Vernon, N.Y. She was 89.
Sister Grace taught at St. Mary School in Gloucester, 1945-53 and 1986-88, and Sacred Heart School in Camden, 1975-78.
She also worked at schools in Puerto Rico and other parts of New Jersey.
While in Puerto Rico she regularly visited the poor and the lepers on Saturdays.
From 1992-95 Sister Grace became a child care worker at St. Vincent’s in Tacony, Philadelphia. She continued her service in Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2002 as a religious development and emotional support person to children. While at St. Vincent’s, she regularly tucked the children into bed and said night prayers with them.
After enjoying many years of working with young children, Sister Grace retired in 2002.
From 2002-09 Sister lived at the Center of Hope in Newburgh, N.Y. In 2009, Sister Grace moved to Meadowview assisted living in Wartburg, Mount Vernon, N.Y. There she regularly chatted with the residents. She kept a daily holy hour of prayer for all the intentions for which people had requested her prayers. Sister Grace had always been a good letter writer and this was the way she kept “in touch,” the community said in a statement announcing her death.
Sister Grace is survived by her four sisters, Mary Lenski, Dolores Ball, Margaret Nuxall, and Clair Sardisco and nieces and nephews.
Sister Grace was buried on Dec. 16 at the Dominican Sisters of Hope Cemetery in Newburgh, N.Y. Donations in memory of Sister Grace Ball can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Hope Development Office, 299 Highland Ave, Ossining, NY, 10562-2327.