Obituary of Sr. Charlotte O'Brien, OSF

BORN: August 2, 1933 in Boston, MA DIED: June 23, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY, of natural causes Daughter of: Edmund and Ellen Blood O’Brien, Somerville, MA Sr. Charlotte O’Brien entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on September 8, 1959, was received into the Congregation on July 2, 1960, and professed her final vows on July 2, 1967. For 62 years, Sister lived her commitment to Franciscan values through her ministry and life in community. Charlotte attended Peabody Grammar School and Cambridge Middle/High School in Cambridge, MA, graduating from Somerville High School, Somerville, MA, in 1951. She attended Salem Teacher’s College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education and completed her Master’s Degree in Education from Boston University, Boston, MA. Sr. Charlotte ministered for over 34 years in Congregational schools in Jamaica, West Indies, as a teacher, Chair of the Education Department and Principal at St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College in Kingston, JA. She also served as Local Minister and Coordinator of Mt. Alvernia Convent in Montego Bay. Sister served on the Archdiocese of Kingston Board of Education, Duke Street School Board and the Remedial Reading Board of Directors. In 1996, she retired as Principal of St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College and moved to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY, where she ministered as a driver for the Sisters and worked at the main switchboard. In 2005 she relocated to St. Raphael Convent in West Medford, MA, until the convent closed in 2014. She was warmly welcomed back to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in May 2014. Sr. Charlotte is predeceased by her parents, Edmund and Ellen Blood O’Brien; a sister, Phyllis Fox a brother, James O’Brien and two nephews, Dana Hall and Duane Fox, Jr. She is survived by a sister, Elaine Hall, and several nieces. At Sr. Charlotte’s request, there will not be a Wake Service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 28, 2021 at 10:00 AM in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY. The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 East State Street, Olean, NY.