Born July 11, 1905, in Fancy Farm, Ky., Edna was the daughter of Edward and Sarah Vessels Brumlow. She was 20 years old when she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph on February 10,1926. Following a six-month postulancy, Edna received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary Francis on August 15, 1926.
Sister Mary Francis was prepared for the teaching apostolate and began that work at St. Raphael School in West Louisville in 1927. She was a teacher of the primary and intermediate grades at Curdsville, Ky., Jeffersonville, Ind., Stanley, Cloverport, St. Lawrence, Rome, Fancy Farm, Central City, St. Paul (Louisville), Mayfield, and Calvary, Ky., and Plattsmouth, Neb. She resigned from classroom teaching in 1967 and served as librarian St. Francis (Loretto), and St. Bernard (Louisville). Due to frail health, Sister Mary Francis was off duty at the Motherhouse, 1942-1943, and at St. Angela Home in Louisville, 1946-1947.
Due to her battle with Parkinson’s disease, Sister Mary Francis returned to the Motherhouse infirmary in 1977. She patiently, confidently awaited death. She died December 4, 1979. The funeral Mass was celebrated on December 6 by Father Anthony Ziegler, chaplain, along with four other priests. Sister Mary Francis’ remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors were her two Ursuline sisters, Sister Marie Therese and Sister Michaeline.