Franciscan generously used her God-given talents, abilities
Honolulu-born Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities Mary Ancilla Yim, who had a long and varied career as an educator, administrator, social worker and more, embraced Sister Death on Sunday, May 8, at the Plaza at Kaneohe. She was 95 years old and a religious for 73 years.
Her funeral Mass will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 7, at St. Ann Church, 46-129 Haiku Road, Kaneohe, with burial at 12:30 p.m. at Diamond Head Memorial Park.
Margaret Mary Yim was born on Feb. 17, 1927, in Honolulu, one of six children of Ernest Koon Kwock Yim, who was a Catholic, and Wai Shan Ching Yim, who was Buddhist. She had one brother, Thomas, and four sisters, Mary, Theresa, Winifred and Antoinette.
A graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy, Margaret attended the University of Hawaii, and received her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton, Ohio, and her master’s in library science at the Catholic University of America, Washington.
Margaret entered the religious life of the Sisters of St. Francis, whom she met when her sister Winnie attended St. Francis Convent School in Manoa, on Aug. 16, 1948. She received the Franciscan habit and her religious name, Sister Mary Ancilla, on March 1, 1949, her first profession on Aug. 15, 1951, and perpetual profession on Aug. 15, 1954.
As a faithful follower of Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi, Sister Ancilla was an exemplary Sister of St. Francis. Blessed with a gentle, quiet spirit and beaming smile, she generously used her God-given talents and abilities throughout her life as a teacher-assistant, teacher, librarian, superior, vice-principal, principal, guidance counselor, catechist, social worker, receptionist, volunteer and prayer minister.
Among her New York assignments were as a catechist, elementary and secondary teacher, principal, college librarian at St. Paul Parish, Whitesboro; Oswego Catholic High School, Oswego; Maria Regina College and St. Daniel School, Syracuse. In Washington, D.C. she attended the Duns Scotus House of Studies. And in Hawaii she served as a teacher, librarian and principal at St. Joseph School, Hilo; counselor, administrative assistant at St. Francis School, Honolulu; and associate director of the Hawaii Region Sisters of St. Francis Associates.
Sister Ancilla was a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Catholic School Association of Administrators in New York, the American Library Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English.
She retired in 2003 but remained involved with Sisters of St. Francis activities, especially in the prayer ministry and the community’s events and programs.
One of the highlights in her life was her golden jubilee, her 50th anniversary as a Franciscan Sister. Of that milestone, Sister Ancilla shared the following:
“The first ‘gold’ in my memory is my non-Catholic mother who affirmed me in my religious vocation. After making a year’s novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, I made a trip to the mainland U.S., Canada, and Mexico at the suggestion of my mother. That tour would begin the week my novena ended. It became the answer to my prayer to be a Syracuse Franciscan Sister.
“Two significant persons in my vocation besides my family were Sister Mary Esther Kanaha (a family friend) and Mother Viola Kiernan, my first superior in Hilo, who guided and inspired me throughout my years. I thank them and praise God for their support and prayers. They and all the Sisters of St. Francis in my life formed the ‘gold’ nuggets of my life.”
Sister Ancilla became quite fond of traveling, and did so when the opportunity presented itself. While ministering in Hawaii, she not only toured the mainland, Canada and Mexico again, but also made her way to Europe.
Sister Ancilla will be remembered for her Christlike example, love for her family, her Sisters of St. Francis and God’s people, prayerfulness, community-mindedness, promptness, her administrative skills, and most of all, her willingness and availability to be of service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Marianne Cope Convent, 2102 Liliha Street, Honolulu, HI 96817.
