Sister Frances (Mary Kenneth) Yarc, OSB    

Sister Frances Yarc, OSB, 97, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the monastery. The vigil service will be Thursday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated there Friday, March 28, at 10:30 a.m.

Sister Frances Yarc was born in Kansas City, Kan., on Dec. 30, 1927, to John and Frances Safer Yarc, the second oldest of five children. She attended Ward High School there for a year and a half before leaving to care for her mother. She entered the Mount community in 1946 and later earned a B.S. in education from Mount St. Scholastica College. She was a teacher for 22 years in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. After receiving L.P.N. training, she served at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., and in the Mount infirmary. She earned her R.N. degree in 1979 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka and was a nursing supervisor in the Mount infirmary for several years. She later did home health care and care of the aged until she retired in 2000. Sister Frances continued to help with hospitality to guests at the monastery for some time after that. She enjoyed painting and displayed her oil paintings at local art fairs where she won several awards. 

Sister Frances was preceded in death by her parents, by her brothers John and Albert Yarc, and by her sister Bernice Jurkovich. She is survived by a sister, Rose Marie Bowline, and by nieces, nephews, and her monastic family. Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home (www.beckerdyer.com) is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s web site (www.mountosb.org).

Reflection for the Funeral Vigil

by Sister Kathleen Flanagan

On behalf of Sister Mary Elizabeth and all the Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, I offer Rose Marie Bowline, Sister Frances’ only remaining sibling, and her daughter Cindy, who are not able to be with us tonight, as well as all surviving nephews, nieces, great- nephews and nieces and great-great nephew, our prayers of sympathy as you grieve the loss of your aunt, Sister Frances. What a fine showing of love and remembrance for Sister Frances is your presence here tonight. I am so glad, too, that some of you came to visit her on the weekend before she died. It meant a lot to Sr. Frances in her final days.

Sister Frances was a devoted member of this community for over seventy-five years. She came as a teenager in 1946 with an open heart and responded eagerly to the challenges set before her. First, as an elementary classroom teacher and then as a nursing professional both in hospitals and at the infirmary here at the Mount. After she “retired,” Sister Frances helped in the guest area and took up oil painting. Several of her pictures can be found on the walls around our home.

In listening to the gospel of Matthew, The Sermon on the Mount, how could we not think of Sister Frances. She was poor in spirit and humble of heart; she had a meek spirit and did not think great things about herself. In following Jesus, she showed compassion to those she encountered daily, offering a kind word, a helpful hand or a listening ear. She treated all people with dignity. Sr. Frances took her role of caring for the sick very seriously as several times this last year she was looking for her uniform and white cap because she was to be on duty shortly. 

She had established her place in the kingdom of heaven. On the morning Sr, Frances died, she told Riley, the CNA who checked on her first, that she was going to heaven soon. 

The reading from Sirach is similar to the prologue of the Rule of our Holy Father Benedict. Sister Frances listened with the ear of her heart to God’s call daily coming to her through her prayer, reading of scripture and listening to those around her. She was in awe of her God, waiting for his mercy, trusting in his presence and hoping for all good things. 

Sister Frances was so patient these last few months, wanting to die, but also wanting to do whatever else was being asked of her. Being up and in her wheelchair was okay for prayers and Mass, but she was always ready to go to bed after that. After a few bites of the meal before her, she would be asking to be taken to her room. Once in her room, she wanted to get into bed . . . almost daily you could hear an aide explaining she had to sit up for a half hour after eating. She did not like that rule, but she patiently endured the time.

Sister Frances rejoiced daily and is rejoicing now in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Let us pause and thank God for Sister Frances’ presence in our lives and let us treasure the memories we have of her and her influence in our lives.