Sister Frances Marie (Ellen) Melroy
Sister Frances Marie was born on a farm near Winterset, Iowa. She joined the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1925 after two years of high school.
After teaching for five years, she took nurse's training at St. Joseph Hospital, Ottumwa, where she was pediatric nurse, clinical instructor and supervisor of nurses for almost 20 years. There, she invented a special oxygen mask and nipple for children with cleft palates.
The next 10 years she was superior and nurse at the Christ Child Home, Des Moines, until it was closed. She then served as campus nurse, supervisor of housekeeping and sacristan at Marycrest College for 20 years.
Known for her simplicity, openness, gracious manner and droll humor, she loved her family and worked intensely on the family genealogy. Sister Mary Annette Gallagher, CHM, was her second cousin.
Missions:
Georgetown Public, Georgetown
St. Vincent Home, Davenport
St. Anthony, Des Moines
St. JOseph Hospital, Ottumwa
Christ Child Home, Des Moines
St. Alphonsus, Davenport
Marycrest College, Davenport
Humility of Mary Center, Davenport