Sister Francis Claire Gowen, a Sister of St. Joseph for 75 years, died on September 16, at St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood, at the age of 92.
The daughter of Vincent and Claire Gowen, Sister Francis Claire grew up in a devoted Catholic family and graduated from St. Christopher’s School, Baldwin, and St. Joseph’s Juniorate. In 1949, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph.
From 1951 to 1963, Sister Francis Claire served as a loving, caring person with an unforgettable smile who faithfully imaged the love of God to the youngest of students in the first grade, and later in the third and fourth grades. Her kindness, gentleness and patience made a lasting impression on her students and their families, even though the classes were very large in those days.
Those schools included Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Long Island City), St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anthony of Padua (Brooklyn), St. Stanislaus Kostka (Maspeth), and Sacred Heart (North Merrick).
During these years, Sister Francis Claire earned a BS in Secondary Education and Religion at St. John’s University, Jamaica, Queens, and attended a religion program at Providence College, Providence, RI. However, she felt God calling her to serve the sick and attended St. John’s Queens School of Nursing, Elmhurst, NY, earning her RN.
For the rest of her life, Sister Francis Claire dedicated herself to her patients, bringing her calm manner, caring nature and professional nursing ability to all those God placed in her care. These included those at St. John’s Queens Hospital (Elmhurst), St. Joseph’s Hospital (Far Rockaway), Maria Regina Residence (Brentwood), Southampton Hospital (Southampton), and St. Joseph Convent (Brentwood).
Sister Francis had a great respect for nature, and fulfilling her request, received a Green Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood. Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Raymond Chappetto, one of her first-grade students, celebrated her Memorial Mass on October 16, 2024 in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood, NY.
Sister Noreen Carroll, OP, was welcomed into eternal life on Oct. 26 by the God she loved and served so well. Sister
Noreen was 85 years old and had been an Amityville Dominican for 67 years. Kiernan and Bridget (O’Brien) Carroll were born in Ireland and raised Noreen and her brothers Joseph and Kevin in St. Matthew’s parish in Brooklyn. She attended the parish elementary school and graduated from All Saints High School, where she excelled in math and served as President of the Legion of Mary.
Noreen was also active in the Cenacle group in her parish. The members visited Catholic children who were hospitalized to prepare them to receive their First Communion and Confirmation.
Dancing was something that Noreen enjoyed very much. She attended weekend dances, but her true love was Irish step dancing. As a young sister, she taught her first grade students of all denominations how to do Irish step dancing for the school assemblies and special shows.
On September 7, 1957, Noreen entered the Amityville Dominican Congregation. A year later she was invested with the habit and received her religious name Sister
Timothy Maureen. Her set was known as the Golden Roses. A year later, the Golden Roses professed their first vows and shortly after began their ministry assignments.
Sister Noreen taught in Holy Redeemer Elementary School from 1959 until 1963 and spent the next 10 years at Sacred Heart Parish, where she taught in the school as well as in the religious education program. In addition to teaching all day, Sister Noreen studied accounting and received degrees from St. Francis College in Brooklyn and St. John’s University in Jamaica.
St. Francis College awarded her the Archbishop Molloy Medal for excellence in accounting. These degrees, as well as her natural gift for math, began a whole new chapter in her life as an Amityville Dominican.
She worked in the Finance Office in Amityville and then at Catholic Medical Center, where officials believed that Sister Noreen was one of only a few women controllers in the national hospital field. Noreen ministered as Director of Volunteers in the Caritas Program at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica and as Director of Finance at the Central Payroll Office at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan.
Sister Noreen came to Carlin Hall in the Motherhouse due to health issues. This was a challenging time for her as well as the nurses and aides who tried to keep track of this kindhearted sister who was always looking for someone whom she could help.
She will be missed by her brother Joseph and her nieces Julia, Noreen, Mary, and Christine, as well as her godchild Julianna. The wake and funeral was held on October 29 in St. Albert Chapel in Amityville. The Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Dominic Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds.
