Sr. Francis Xavier Porter

Sr. Francis Xavier Porter, OSU, died peacefully at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, MT on March 9, 2022. She was born Frances Maxwell Porter on July 28, 1928, to James and Frances Courtney Porter. Her early education was at St. Mary’s School and Ursuline Academy in Great Falls. She entered the Roman Union of Ursuline Nuns on July 16, 1949, in Festus, MO. She received a BA from the College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, an MA from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, and an MSA from the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Sr. Francis began her teaching career in 1952, at the Ursuline Academy, Great Falls followed by St. Paul’s in Anaconda, MT, Great Falls Catholic Central High School, St. John’s Ursuline High School, San Francisco, CA, Cardinal Newman High School, Santa Rosa, CA.She served as Vice-Principal and Principal at St. John’s High School, San Francisco, CA, St. Mary’s Mission High School, St. Mary’s AK, Ursuline High School, Santa Rosa, CA, Ursuline Primary School, Great Falls, MT. In addition to school administration, she was the local Superior at the Ursuline Centre, as well as Great Falls and Provincial Superior of Ursuline Western Province. Following her retirement, Sr. Francis returned to the Ursuline Centre in Great Falls, MT where she organized, catalogued, and digitalized historically important archives dating from the early 1880s of the Ursuline Missions and foundations in Montana, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho, among many other things. She was also a member of the Lady Hibernians. Sr. Francis is remembered as a woman of deep faith, strong convictions, independence, a compassionate heart, and generosity of spirit. She was fiercely dedicated to the educational profession the Ursuline Charism, her students, family, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, James Porter; and a sister, Courtney, who passed away during infancy. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Jeanette McCormack of Clyde Hill, WA; her nephew, TJ Porter, and his family; and her Ursuline Sisters. The Viewing will be on Monday, March 21, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., followed by the Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. The celebration of her life on Tuesday, March 22, 10:00 a.m. at the Ursuline Centre Chapel, 2300 Central Avenue, Great Falls, MT, followed by a reception. Donations in her memory are suggested to the Ursuline Centre or a charity of your choice.