Aston, PA—Sister Clare Agnes Conforti, OSF, 85, died in Assisi House on Tuesday, March 29. Sister Clare Agnes was born Jeanette Conforti in Brooklyn, New York, where she was a member of St. Francis Paola Parish and a graduate of Grover Cleveland High School. In 1955 she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood, a congregation which later merged with the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and professed her first vows in 1956. She has been a professed member of the congregation for 66 years.  Sister Clare Agnes earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Seton Hall University as well as a M.S. in Religious Education and Spirituality from Fordham University.  She ministered primarily in elementary education and pastoral/retreat ministry.

Sister Clare Agnes ministered for 49 years in the Diocese of Paterson. Thirty-three of those years were spent in education ministry. She taught at St. Catherine of Bologna School in Ringwood, St. Francis School in Haskell, served as principal of Queen of Peace School in Hewitt, and served as principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Passaic. In addition, she served in for six years in administration for the Sisters of St. Francis of Ringwood as well as 10 years as coordinator of the Mt. St. Francis Retreat Center in Ringwood.

Sister Clare Agnes’ seven years in the Diocese of Brooklyn included teaching at St. Benedict School and at Holy Family School, both in Brooklyn.

During her 11 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Sister Clare Agnes served as a volunteer for the Franciscan Spiritual Center and Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston.  In ­­­­­2016, she moved to Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania, where she served in prayer and hospitality until her death.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Services will be live-streamed. Viewing at 9:30 A.M. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M.  Burial will be at 12 P.M. (noon) on Wednesday, April 6, in God’s Acre Cemetery in Ringwood. Sister Clare Agnes is survived by her sisters, Lucille Montana and Dolores DiPaolo, her brother Philip Conforti, her many 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.

For a more personal write-up on Sister Clare Agnes,  click here.