Sister Mary Floranne McDonald, SNJM
Phoebe McDonald

October 29, 1918–January 27, 2010 (Marylhurst, OR)

Sister Mary Floranne (Phoebe McDonald), age 91, died at the Marie-Rose Center at Mary's Woods in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on January 27, 2010. She was a vowed member of the Sisters of the Holy Names for nearly 70 years. The Mass of Christian Burial was held on February 4, in the Provincial House Chapel.

Sister Floranne's roots lay in central Oregon, where she was born, the oldest of the four children of Alex and Elizabeth Hamilton McDonald. Her mother was born in Ashwood, her grandfather was the president of the bank in Shaniko. For the rest of her life Sister Floranne followed the news about that area, including the takeover of the neighboring town of Antelope by the Rajneesh. A return to the family ranch was always a joy to her.

She left Ashwood in the seventh grade to attend St. Mary's Academy in The Dalles, where she became a Catholic in her junior year in high school. After graduation she attended the Normal School at Marylhurst for a year, then spent another year at the ranch with her family. She entered the Holy Names novitiate in 1938, made first profession of vows in 1940, and final vows in 1945.

A keen, but kind, judge of human behavior, Sister Floranne taught upper grades at St. Francis in Bend; and St. Ignatius, St. Francis and Cathedral in Portland. She served as principal at the Cathedral school, and as superior and principal at St. Mary's in The Dalles, where she was loved and appreciated by the students, their parents and above all, the Sisters. Along the way she earned a bachelor's degree from Marylhurst College, and a masters degree from the University of Oregon.

Later she served as superior and principal at Cottage Grove and at the Convent of the Holy Names, where she also was a member of the Provincial Administration. After serving in these leadership roles, she joined the staff of the infirmary at Marylhurst, caring for the sick and ailing members of the community. The last ten years of her active life she spent as secretary to the Provincial. During her final years her deep faith and trust in God's will left her peaceful and joyous. She never lost her sense of humor nor her interest in the world.

Sister Mary Floranne was survived by her brothers Tom and Ronald, their wives, nieces and nephews, and the members of her religious community.

Remembrances may be made to the Holy Names Sisters Foundation, P.O. Box 411, Marylhurst, OR 97036.