Anna Elizabeth, one of six children of Henry Francis and Adelaide Spalding Abell, was born October 29, 1907, on a farm near Raywick, Ky. She joined a family of six brothers and sisters from her father’s first marriage, most of whom were living away from home. Her faith journey began with baptism at St. Francis Xavier Church, on November 6, 1907.
Her formal education began at a Hardin County Public School near Elizabethtown in September 1914. The family later moved to Marion County, where she attended “Little Saint Joseph School,” in Raywick, and Clear Creek School.
On September 7, 1926, Anna entered the Mount Saint Joseph novitiate to begin the three-year preparation for the life of an Ursuline. On March 19, 1927, she received the Ursuline habit, and the name Sister Francis Marie. During the novitiate, she continued the high school classes needed to receive a diploma from Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
Shortly after profession of first vows in September 1929, Sister was assigned the first and second grades at St. Elizabeth School, Curdsville, Ky. Other assignments during her 54 years in the classroom were in Ursuline-staffed schools in Owensboro (St. Joseph), Rome, Stanley, Shively, and Jeffersontown, Ky. In 1985, she retired from full-time teaching but remained at St. Edward School, Jeffersontown, tutoring, substituting in the classroom occasionally, and helping with the Special Reading Program.
In 1990, Sister Francis Marie retired to the Motherhouse infirmary. As her physical health continually weakened, she became oblivious of persons around her. In her mind, though, she was teaching reading, writing, arithmetic and catechism aloud day after day to an imaginary class of little children.
Shortly after breakfast on January 14, 2000, Sister died suddenly. Father Anthony Shonis celebrated the funeral Mass on January 17, 2000, followed by the burial ceremony in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Mary Damien Abell.