Background
She was born Helena Agnes Franey on July 29, 1898 in Galesburg, Illinois, to Michael D. and Margaret (Connerton) Franey.
president religious servant superior general
She was born Helena Agnes Franey on July 29, 1898 in Galesburg, Illinois, to Michael D. and Margaret (Connerton) Franey.
She attended Edinboro State Normal School in Edinboro, Pennsylvania before the family sent Helena to attend high school in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
In 1952, she was appointed by the Sacred Congregation of Religious in Rome to serve on an International Commission of 40 superior generals. She was one of three superior generals from the United States to serve on this Commission. Helena was one of six children.
Because of Michael"s occupation as superintendent of workshops of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, the family moved often.
They spent some time in Jackson, Michigan, moved to Columbus, Ohio, and settled for a time in Elkhart, Indiana. However, it was still a surprise when Helena decided to enter the convent herself.
(Later, two of Helena"s brothers would enter the priesthood, becoming Father John T Franey and Monsignor Louis J Franey)
Helena entered the congregation on September 24, 1918, professed first vows in 1921 and took final vows in 1926, taking the religious name of Sister Marie Helene. She taught high school from 1920 through 1944 at Marywood Academy in Evanston, Illinois.
Providence High School in Chicago.
Saint Augustine in Fort Wayne, Indiana. And Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Academy. From 1928-1929, Franey took a break from teaching to study Latin at Indiana University and earn her master"s degree.
She would later study at the Institute of Canon Law at Saint Louis University in Missouri.
In 1944, Franey was elected a councillor of the Congregation. That year, Franey was one of six general superiors to plan the First National Congress of Religious, held at University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
Franey died in office on November 23, 1953, of an acute heart attack following a short illness. A shrine to Our Lady of Fatima on the motherhouse grounds at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is dedicated in her honor.
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.