Aston, PA—Sister Alice Klein, OSF, (formerly Sister Margaretta Marie), 91, died in Assisi House on Monday, January 30, 2023. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 69 years. Sister Alice was born Mary Alice Klein in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a member of St. Anthony Parish and a graduate of The Catholic High School of Baltimore. She entered the congregation in 1952 and professed her first vows in 1954. She earned a BA in Social Studies from Neumann University. She ministered primarily in education. A high school sports star herself, Sister Alice went on to coach both girls’ softball and basketball at various schools. In 2004 she was the first to be entered into the TCHS Hall of Fame for Sports.
Sister Alice ministered for 16 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore at The Catholic High School of Baltimore, where she served as the director of adult spiritual formation, coached sports, served as sports chaplain, and later served as a volunteer. As a student at the school, she was instrumental in organizing the school’s newspaper and student council.
Sister Alice spent 12 years in the Harrisburg diocese where she taught at Holy Trinity School, Columbia; St. Joseph School, Dallastown; St. Joseph School, York; and St. Joseph School, Lancaster. In both Dallastown and York she also coached the girls’ softball team and won state championships for multiple years in a row.
For 13 years, Sister Alice taught in the Diocese of Trenton at Corpus Christi School in Willingboro, St. Michael Home in Hopewell, and Immaculate Conception School and Blessed Sacrament School in Trenton. She was also involved in prison ministry in Bordentown, New Jersey.
Additional ministry includes 12 years serving as principal of Blessed Sacrament School in Walpole, Massachusetts, in the Boston diocese; and as house mother for five years at St. Mary Home in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the Fall River diocese.
In 2016 Sister Alice moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.
All services will be held in Assisi House on Thursday, February 2, 2023, and will be livestreamed. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Alice is survived by her nieces and 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.
Watch a video of Sister Alice talking about her life or listen in this episode of the Brewing Faith podcast.
For a more personal write-up about Sister Alice, click here.
The livestream will begin at 9:30 A.M. To access the livestream, click here: https://livestream.com/accounts/18363082/sraliceklein
