Obituary for Sister Lilyan Mary Fraher, RSM
Sister Lilyan Mary Fraher, RSM, (formerly Sister Mary de Montfort), died peacefully on December 5, 2021 in the Baggot Street Community, Saint Mary Home, West Hartford, CT. Born in Bridgeport, CT on August 13, 1937 to the late Thomas and Mildred (Cooper) Fraher, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in September 1955, following her graduation from the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy (Lauralton Hall), Milford, CT. While a student at Lauralton Hall, she was profoundly influenced by the life and spirituality of the principal, Sister Mary Hines, RSM, which contributed to Sister Lilyan’s decision to enter the Sisters of Mercy community. She found the commitment of the sisters to service to the poor, sick and uneducated consistent with her life plan. Throughout the next 60 years following her profession of final vows in 1961, she found joy, hope and happiness in a variety of ministries. After earning a BA in Education in 1959 from the Diocesan Sisters’ College, Madison, Sister Lilyan pursued graduate studies in theology and scripture at the Catholic University of America and Boston College, receiving an MA In Religious Studies from the University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, (1973).
As a teacher and administrator, Sister Lilyan was recognized for her ability to tap into the potential of students and colleagues, blending her enthusiasm, quiet peacefulness, and warm smile as together they created a vision for the future. This vision led Sister Lilyan to expand her influences into formal religious education programs, retreats and spiritual direction. Accepting leadership positions for the Sisters of Mercy, she guided the spiritual development of countless individuals. In 1996, Sister Lilyan Fraher received the Lauralton Hall Mother Mary Augustine Claven Award in recognition of her life in Mercy.
Predeceased by her parents, Sister Lilyan is survived by her brother Thomas and his wife, Carol Fraher; her nephews and their wives, Patrick and Mary, Thomas and Valerie; her grandnephews and nieces, Lucy, Peter, Stephen, Zoe, her cousin Cathy Menge and her children Caitlin, Crista, and Ryan, her cousin Brian Iwanski, his wife Teresa and his children Amanda and Alyssa and their spouses; many additional loving cousins; her countless counselees, and the Sisters of Mercy, especially her close friends, Mary Frances McMahon, RSM and Mary O’Neill, RSM.
The Sisters of Mercy are grateful to the Saint Mary Home staff for the compassionate care provided to Sister Lilyan during her extended illness.
Sister Lilyan’s Funeral Mass and Wake will be held on Friday, (December 10), at Saint Mark the Evangelist Church, 467 South Quaker Lane, West Hartford.
You are asked to wear masks at the services.
The wake will be at 11:00 a.m. with a wake service at about 11:15 a.m., the Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 noon and after Mass will be the burial in Saint Mary Cemetery, 2021 Albany Ave, West Hartford.
You are asked to consider donations in her memory to the Sisters of Mercy, 25 Prescott Street, 1st floor, West Hartford, CT 06110. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com
As a teacher and administrator, Sister Lilyan was recognized for her ability to tap into the potential of students and colleagues, blending her enthusiasm, quiet peacefulness, and warm smile as together they created a vision for the future. This vision led Sister Lilyan to expand her influences into formal religious education programs, retreats and spiritual direction. Accepting leadership positions for the Sisters of Mercy, she guided the spiritual development of countless individuals. In 1996, Sister Lilyan Fraher received the Lauralton Hall Mother Mary Augustine Claven Award in recognition of her life in Mercy.
Predeceased by her parents, Sister Lilyan is survived by her brother Thomas and his wife, Carol Fraher; her nephews and their wives, Patrick and Mary, Thomas and Valerie; her grandnephews and nieces, Lucy, Peter, Stephen, Zoe, her cousin Cathy Menge and her children Caitlin, Crista, and Ryan, her cousin Brian Iwanski, his wife Teresa and his children Amanda and Alyssa and their spouses; many additional loving cousins; her countless counselees, and the Sisters of Mercy, especially her close friends, Mary Frances McMahon, RSM and Mary O’Neill, RSM.
The Sisters of Mercy are grateful to the Saint Mary Home staff for the compassionate care provided to Sister Lilyan during her extended illness.
Sister Lilyan’s Funeral Mass and Wake will be held on Friday, (December 10), at Saint Mark the Evangelist Church, 467 South Quaker Lane, West Hartford.
You are asked to wear masks at the services.
The wake will be at 11:00 a.m. with a wake service at about 11:15 a.m., the Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 noon and after Mass will be the burial in Saint Mary Cemetery, 2021 Albany Ave, West Hartford.
You are asked to consider donations in her memory to the Sisters of Mercy, 25 Prescott Street, 1st floor, West Hartford, CT 06110. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com