Sister of St Francis always looked for new challenges in religious life
Sister Michele McQueeney, who said she felt “fortunate to have been involved in a variety of ministries” in her 66 years as a Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, died Jan. 10 at The Plaza in Kaneohe after a short illness. She was 85.
“I have always looked for new challenges during my years in religious life,” she wrote in 2017 on the occasion of her 60th anniversary as a Franciscan. “I’ve never been content to stay in any place for a long period of time. I feel fortunate to have been involved in a variety of ministries on the mainland and in Hawaii.”
Sister Michele was a teacher, school administrator, social worker, director of a non-profit organization and parish minister among other jobs. She worked 28 years in Hawaii.
“I loved my years at CSI (Comfort, Security, Independence) Inc. in Honolulu working with the frail elderly, homeless and substance abusers, and learning how to run a small nonprofit agency,” she said. “It was a period where I prayed a lot and experienced many small miracles. We managed to survive.”
Sister Michele was born Margaret Susan McQueeney to Carl and Margaret (Dougherty) McQueeney on July 21, 1937, in Auburn, New York.
“I became acquainted with the Franciscan Sisters when I was in high school and working as a nurse’s aide at the local hospital run by the sisters in Auburn, N.Y.,” Sister Michele said. “The sisters were so joyful and friendly and made everyone feel happy. They were able to bring a smile to your face even when you might not be as cheerful as they were.”
“By the end of high school I had begun to think about religious life but decided to go to the nursing school run by the Franciscans. By the end of that year, I had read about St. Francis and St. Clare and really felt called to religious life,” she said.
She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities on Sept. 1, 1956.
Sister Michele ministered in the educational arena for much of her religious life. She was a teacher for 21 years and administrator of Saint Francis High School in Honolulu from 1982 to 1986.
She worked at Saint Paul’s Villa in Health and Human Services in the County of San Diego, California. Moving to Hawaii, Sister Michele became the executive director of CSI, Inc. in 1992. In 1999 she was honored with the President’s Award by Hawaii Women Lawyers Organization. Sister Michele also served as a volunteer at St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii.
“I thank God for calling me into his vineyard and for the many graces I have received, and my religious community for the many experiences I have had,” Sister Michele said. “With God, nothing is impossible!”
Her fellow Sisters of St. Francis described Sister Michele as an easy-going person who enjoyed being with others. She was genuinely interested and concerned with those with whom she lived and ministered. She is survived by many cousins and the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neuman Communities.
Her funeral services are Feb. 7 at St. Ann Church, Kaneohe with visitation at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial services will be at 12:30 p.m. at Diamond Head Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, 46-068 Alaloa St., Apt. 207, Kaneohe, HI 96744.
