Aston, PA—Sister Carol Ann Zurlo, OSF, 78, (formerly Sister Emma Francis) died in Assisi House on April 25. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 54 years. Sister Carol Ann was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and graduated from Upper Freehold Township High School. Prior to her entrance into the congregation in 1959, she studied nursing and became an R.N. at St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Trenton. She professed her first vows in 1961. Her cousin, Sister Patricia Millen, is also a member of the congregation. Sister Carol Ann earned a B.S. in Nursing from Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania, and an M.S. in Nursing from the Catholic University of America. She also later became a pediatric nurse practitioner and ministered in healthcare in various capacities.
Sister Carol Ann ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 22 years. She worked at St. Agnes Medical Center and later served as director of St. Mary’s Children’s Health Center in Langhorne. In 2008 she moved to Assisi House in Aston where she served in prayer ministry until her death.
Sister Carol Ann’s 21 years in the Diocese of Trenton included working at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, ministering at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville, and serving as school nurse at All Saints School in Burlington. She also served on the provincial council for the former St. Anthony Province which was based in Trenton.
Sister Carol Ann also ministered at St. Joseph Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for six years. She spent another six years at Good Shepherd Home Health in Hayesville, North Carolina. Her final ministry prior to her retirement and moving into prayer ministry was to serve as administrator of St. Francis Convent in Ringwood, New Jersey.
All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, Aston, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, April 29. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial at will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. In addition to Sister Patricia Millen, Sister Carol Ann is survived by her sister, Precious Groom, two brothers, John and Don Zurlo, nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
