Aston, PA—Sister Rose Cecilia Case, OSF, 92, died in Riddle Memorial Hospital, Media, on February 14. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 67 years. Sister Rose Cecilia (Mary Rita Case) was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of St. Aloysius Parish. She graduated from St. Peter High School in Reading, Pennsylvania. Prior to her entrance into the congregation in 1940, she worked as a secretary at Bethlehem Steel. Sister Rose Cecilia earned a Bachelors of Music from the Catholic University of America and a M.A. in Theology from St. Bonaventure University. In 2005 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Neumann University. She ministered in education on elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels. She served in congregational ministry as a general council member, vicar general, and general minister for the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. Sister Rose Cecilia was well known among the Franciscan congregations of both women and men. She served as president of the Franciscan Federation, an organization comprised of members of various Third Order Regular Franciscan congregations. She was actively involved in the revision of the Third Order Regular Rule. She has also had several articles published in The Cord, a publication of the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University.
Sister Rose Cecilia ministered for 62 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She taught at St. Ludwig School (1942-1943), Nativity School in Media (1944-1947); and West Catholic High School (1956-1968, 1969-1974). From 1950-1956 she taught in the Novitiate School at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston. She served in congregational ministry for the Sisters of St. Francis as a member of the general council (1970-1974), vicar general (1974-1978), and general minister (1978-1986). She ministered for 19 years in various positions at Neumann University in Aston: vice president of mission and ministry (1987-1997), founder and first director of the Franciscan Institute (1997-2001), volunteer in the Office of the Registrar (2001-2006). In 2006 she moved to Assisi House where she served in prayer ministry until her death.
Sister Rose Cecilia also ministered in Lost Creek, Pennsylvania, where she taught at St. Mary Magdalen School from 1943-1944. From 1968-1969 she ministered at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Portland, Oregon, where she taught the novices and served as director of the juniorate program.
All services will be held in Our Lady of Angels Convent, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, Pennsylvania. There will be a viewing on Friday, February 19, from 6-8 P.M., with a prayer service at 7 P.M. On Saturday, February 20, there will be a viewing from 9:30-11 A.M., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Rose Cecilia is survived by her sister, Ann Jane Dobrey of Pottstown, Pennsylvania; 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.
