Sister Grace Briare, SNJM
Sister M. Christa Rose

June 23, 1937–December 23, 2011 (Los Gatos, CA)

Grace Briare was born on June 23, 1937, in San Francisco, California, to Grace Bush Briare and Ambrose Briare. She was the second oldest of four daughters - Mary, Grace, Dorothy and Therese.

Grace grew up in San Anselmo. They were a faith-centered family - quiet, happy and close. Grace loved the beauty of Marin County, camping at Yosemite, swimming, gardening, reading and cooking. She remarks, “In my early years of growing up, I can remember the joy of birthday celebrations, Thanksgiving and Christmas times, all family centered.” She and her good friend, Sister Genie Rohner, went to school together, camped together and spent the last years together here at Convent of the Holy Names as well.

Grace had a great love for her family and thoroughly enjoyed the visits with her sisters and their families. Pictures of nieces and nephews filled her room in the Care Center and she prayed for them all. Their love sustained her in her last days.

Grace entered the convent on July 24, 1956, at Los Gatos, California. Of factors influencing her decision to enter religious life, she wrote: “The beautiful example given me by my parents: prayer, love of God, dedication, unselfishness, thoughtfulness of others, sacrifice.”

In the Novitiate, Sister Grace focused on prayer, study of theology, gardening and sewing. As a Missionary Novice, she was sent to St. Ignatius Convent in Sacramento, where she assisted Sister Adrian Maria in first grade and substituted in other grades. She also helped in the remaking of the holy habits during “black season.” Her second assignment was Sacred Heart, Oakland (1958-60), where she taught grade one. This was followed by St. Gerard Magella where she taught both grades one and two (1960-62).

Sister Grace pronounced her first Vows on August 15, 1958, at Los Gatos, and Final Profession on August 22, 1963, at Convent of the Holy Names Chapel in Oakland, California. She received her education at schools where our Holy Names Sisters taught: St. Anselm’s Elementary, Marin Catholic High School and Holy Names College. As a young religious, she majored in math and education specializing in reading. She received her BA from Holy Names College, Oakland, and MA from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. She deeply valued education and expanded her learning over the years to include: Religious Education and RCIA training for parish ministry and Retreat Ministry and Spiritual Direction Certification.

Grace valued her years teaching primary grade children and grew to really love the years teaching junior high students. . For 28 years she was in elementary education in 11 schools in both Northern and Southern California. Her favorite assignment was at St. Mark’s, Venice. She loved the people and Mexican American children who had language problems and yet needed to learn to read. She related that moving up and down the state from one assignment to the next over many years, taught her how to live simply. She would gather workshop supplies for her students and then have to leave them behind and begin again in a new classroom. She said this experience taught her how to share and be creative.

Her parish ministry began in 1986-1991 at St. Francis of Assisi, in Los Angeles where she met her dear friend, Father Michael Maloney, OFM, Cap., who was pastor. From 1991-92, Sister Grace did an Internship year in Spiritual Direction at Mercy Center, Burlingame, and ministered at Our Lady of the Angels, Burlingame, where Father Maloney was now the pastor and where she did volunteer ministry. Her years in parish ministry concluded at St. John Vianney, San Jose, 1992-94, where she worked with adults and children in RCIA, Re-membering Church, Separated and Divorce, Infant Baptism, and Parish Days of renewal.

The most life giving ministry for her was that of Spiritual Direction and Retreat Work which she felt was God’s special gift to her in her later years and where she deepened the contemplative part of her community call. She served on the SNJM Retreat Team for eight years, at the Center for Spiritual Development, Orange, DePaul Center, Montebello and the Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ.

Those who lived with her enjoyed her homemade bread, Danish pastries, creative meals, expertise in gardening and sharing on spirituality. She studied at GTU in Berkeley in the ‘80’s and gave retreats with Sister Molly Neville in the Greater Bay Area. Many sisters of other communities also benefited from her presence on our summer retreats at Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz in particular, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.

Suffering seemed to be an integral part of Grace’s life. In her 20’s and 30’s she endured two serious major surgeries. She said these seemed unbearable and recalls the fear and struggle that accompanied the pain. She wrote to the Provincial, “I do wish to accept my death and dying in union with Jesus, and in joyful hope for the new life it promises.” When she was on staff at Saint Raphael, Goleta and also at St. Elizabeth’s, Altadena, the community withdrew sisters. About that time, she wrote, “These two experiences, along with realizing that we had withdrawn from most of the schools I had taught at, helped me understand more deeply that I couldn’t cling to my teaching ministry but I needed to be open to the Spirit’s call … not knowing what the future would be”.

Sister Grace came to the Care Center in 2003, and for a time, volunteered at Sacred Heart Community Center, San Jose. As her suffering from dementia and Parkinson’s progressed, she received a great grace of acceptance. She loved to be outdoors in the sunshine and enjoyed the beauty of our grounds. As she grew more dependent, our nurses said she was grateful and peaceful for their tender care of her. When she was no longer able to speak she communicated with her eyes.

From childhood, Sister Grace was filled with the desire to see God in her life. She wrote “At my First Communion, the song being sung spoke of God saying, ‘Come my little child to me… Oh, I love you so my own, come … I must when you do call my God, my life, my all. As a little child of seven, I felt that song was real and it was God speaking to me, and my response to God. I meant that total dedication at that young age and it has never left me.”

On April 16, 1956, Fr. Mc Garr, Pastor of St. Anselm’s Church, wrote to our Provincial of Grace indicating that Grace Briare was a very fine girl from a very fine family and he prayed that by God’s grace she may as a religious glorify God and be of great service to his Church. We believe that Grace has glorified God with her 74 years of life and 53 years of religious profession. We thank God for her “yes” and all who believed in her and loved her over the years.

The Mass of Resurrection was celebrated on December 28, 2011, at 2:00p.m. In the Chapel at Los Gatos. Father Michael Maloney, OFM, Cap., presided and gave the homily. Father Michael Strange, SS, con-celebrated. Sister Mary Becker welcomed the congregation on behalf of the Los Gatos Mission Centre, of which Sister Grace was a member. Sister David Emmanuel Paula, a member of Sister Grace’s entry group read the intentions. Sister Molly Neville gave the reflection on Sister’s life. Following the service a reception was held in the Convent dining room where family, friends and Sisters gathered to share thoughts and stories of Sister Grace’s life.

Sister Grace Briare was buried at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Hayward, California, on December 30, 2011. A large group led by Sister Mary Becker participated in the final prayers of departure.