Sister Francine Balster

Macken Funeral Home Memorial Photo
Date of Birth:
Saturday, June 27, 1925
Date of Death:
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Age:
98 years old

Resurrection Liturgy

Date: Thursday February 22, 2024
Time: 11:00 am

Location: Assisi Heights Convent [ view map ]

Burial

Location: Calvary Cemetery [ view map ]

Macken Funeral Home Memorial Photo
Date of Birth:
Saturday, June 27, 1925
Date of Death:
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Age:
98 years old
Macken Funeral Home Memorial Photo
Date of Birth:
Saturday, June 27, 1925
Date of Death:
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Age:
98 years old

Sister Francine Balster

Sister Francine Balster, 98, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, MN, died at Assisi Heights on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Sister Francine was born Dorothy Evelyn Balster on June 27, 1925, in Wilmont, Minnesota, to Frank and Anna (Lenz) Balster. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1945, received the name of Sister Francine, and made perpetual vows in 1950. She received her Master’s in Elementary School Administration from Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota, in 1964. Sister Francine served as an elementary and intermediate teacher for forty-six years in Minnesota and a little time in Ohio. After teaching, she served in the ministry of care at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Austin, Minnesota, before her retirement and move to Assisi Heights in 2018.

Survivors of Sister Francine include her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 79 years, her brother Richard Balster, her sister Marie Vortherms, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Kathleen Jueneman.

A Resurrection Liturgy will be held at Assisi Heights at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2024. The burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery.

To view the funeral, go to www.rochesterfranciscan.org. Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Mission Advancement, Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.

Condolences

The family of Sister Francine Balster has received the following condolences.

My sincere condolences go out to Sr. Pat Beck and Sr. Francine's entire family.


I got to know Sr. Francine when she and Sr. Pat were living in Austin.  Sr. Pat joined our singing group at St. Augustine and Sr. Francine would always come along to practice and on our many outings as a group.  We had so much fun with the Sisters.  


Sr. Francine was truly and kind and gentle soul.


Rest in peace my friend.