Aston, PA—Sister ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Eleanor Horneman, OSF, (formerly Sister John Magdalen), 96, died in Assisi House on Thursday, March 14, 2024. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 75 years. Sister Eleanor was born in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a member of St. Michael Parish in Overlea, and a graduate of Seton High School. She entered the congregation in 1946 and professed her first vows in 1949.  She earned a BA in English from Villanova University and a MA in English from Gonzaga University.  She ministered primarily in education and pastoral services.

Sister Eleanor began her years as a sister in education teaching at Blessed Sacrament School in Trenton, New Jersey; at St. Leo High School in Tacoma, Washington; and at Sacred Heart Academy in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Sister Eleanor ministered for 34 years.  She taught for five years at Towson Catholic High School, before serving for eight years as provincial at St. Anthony Convent.  For 14 years Sister Eleanor served as coordinator of the Western Region Planning Project and as chairwoman of Renew the Vision for the Archdiocese. She also served as a volunteer at St. Anthony Shrine for seven years.

During her 19 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Sister Eleanor served in congregational leadership for four years at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston.  She ministered for six years as the chair of human resources at Neumann University and as a volunteer at Assisi House for eight years. In 2023 she moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.

Additional ministry includes four years in local house ministry in the Diocese of Wilmington.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Friday, March 22, 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 Eleanor is survived by her nieces and nephews and 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 Eleanor, click here.

The livestream will begin at 9:30 A.M. To access the livestream, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnM3vqUgh5M