ASTON, Pa. — Franciscan Sister Agnes Assisi Shipley died July 9 in Assisi House at the age of 91. A professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 77 years, she served in the Diocese of Charles-ton for 20 years.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated July 13 at Assisi House. Burial was in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston.
Born Catherine Elizabeth Shipley in Baltimore, Md., on Feb. 13, 1915, Sister Agnes Assisi was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish and graduated in 1934 from Pre-Professionals High School in Harrisburg, Pa. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md., in 1954 and a master’s degree in elementary education from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in 1968.
Sister Agnes Assisi worked for 23 years in the Baltimore archdiocese; 20 years in the Diocese of Charleston; 20 years in the Wilmington, Del., archdiocese; five years in the Raleigh, N.C., diocese; and one year in the Richmond, Va., diocese.
While in the Diocese of Charleston, Sister Agnes Assisi served in diocesan ministry at Divine Redeemer Church in Hanahan (1978-1985) and Blessed Sacrament Church in Charleston (1985-1990). She also served in parish ministry at St. Andrew Church in Myrtle Beach (1990-1994), St. Mary Church in Greenville (1994-1996), and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Folly Beach (1996-1998).
In 1998, Sister Agnes Assisi moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence, where she lived out her remaining days surrounded by other Sisters of St Francis. She is survived by nieces and nephews and by her Franciscan family.
Donations in memory of Sister Agnes Assisi can be made to Franciscan Ministries Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.