Sister Ernan Norris, 94
Sister Ernan Norris, 94, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes in Rochester, Minn., died at Assisi Heights on Saturday, June 20, 2009.
Agnes Adelia Norris was born to Emory and Honore (Collins) Norris on Oct. 25, 1914 in Clarion, Iowa, the youngest of six children. She entered the Sisters of Saint Francis in 1943 from Saint John Parish in Clarion, Iowa, and made profession of vows in 1945. Sister Ernan received a B.S.N. Degree in 1943 from the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, Minn. After her novitiate in 1945, Sister began her ministry as the Director of the School of Nursing at Mercy Hospital in Portsmouth, Ohio. In 1949 she returned to Rochester to serve at Saint Marys Hospital as a nursing instructor in obstetrics, night supervisor and head nurse in the emergency room. She returned to Mercy Hospital in Portsmouth in 1958 where she served until 1966 as an instructor in medical/surgical nursing and obstetrics supervisor. From 1966-1969, Sister Ernan served as Director of Health Service at the College of Saint Teresa in Winona. From January to April 1969 she pursued studies in gerontology through the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in preparation for her ministry as Administrator of Sacred Heart Hospice, Austin, where she served from 1969 to 1980. Following her ministry at Sacred Heart Hospice, Sister Ernan obtained a Clinical Pastoral Education Certificate through St. Francis Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wis., after which she joined the Pastoral Care staff at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester until her retirement in 1989.
Sister Ernan is survived by her Franciscan Congregation with whom she shared life for 65 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Assisi Heights, Rochester. Friends may call at Assisi Heights for the Vigil Service at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 and before the time of the service on Wednesday. Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Benefactor Relations at Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NE – Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55901.