Date of Birth:
Wednesday, September 4, 1929
Date of Death:
Thursday, December 7, 2023
Age:
94 years old

S. Una O’Meara

Sister Una O’Meara, 93, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, Minnesota, died at Assisi Heights on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

Agnes Mary O’Meara was born on September 4, 1929, in Saint Charles, Minnesota, to Charles and Theresa (Sauer) O’Meara. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1951, received the name of Sister Una, and made perpetual vows in 1957. She received her Master’s in Elementary Education from the Catholic University, Washington, D.C., in 1967. From 1954 to 1977, Sister Una dedicated 23 years serving as an elementary school teacher in various locations. She taught at St. Priscilla School in Chicago, Illinois (1954-1959), St. Raphael School in Springfield, Minnesota (1959-1960), and St. Andrew School in Silver Spring, Maryland (1960-1963). She also served as the Superior/Principal at St. Lawrence School in Ironton, Ohio, from 1963-1969, and later as the Principal of Mary McCahill School in Lake City, Minnesota, from 1970-1972. Her teaching career also included positions at Cathedral School in Winona, Minnesota (1972-1973), St. Francis School in Rochester, Minnesota (1973-1976), and Sacred Heart School in Adams, Minnesota (1976-1977). Sister Una then worked as an assistant at the Tau Center in Winona, Minnesota, from 1977-1980, and later as a receptionist and shuttle driver at Assisi Heights in Rochester, Minnesota, from 1980-1985. She then served as a Hospital Chaplain, from 1985-1987, at St Mary Medical Center in Gary, Indiana, and as the Pastoral Care Director for the Sisters of the Holy Cross, St. Mary’s Convent in Notre Dame, Indiana, from 1987-1992. Sister Una returned to her role as a Hospital Chaplain at St. Clare Hospital and Health Services in Baraboo, Wisconsin, from 1992-1998, before retiring, in 1999, at Assisi Heights in Rochester, Minnesota.

Survivors of Sister Una O’Meara include her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 71 years, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Francis O’Meara, and sisters Helen Kronnebush and Marian Schloegel.

Sister Una made the gift of an anatomical bequest to Mayo Clinic.

A Memorial Liturgy will be held at Assisi Heights January 4, 2023 at 11:00 am. Burial will take place at a later date.

To view the funeral, go to www.rochesterfranciscan.org.

Suggested memorials are to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Mission Advancement, Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.