Sister Francis McBride, 89, teacher

Sister Francis Regina McBride, 89, a Franciscan nun who taught in schools in Southeastern Pennsylvania, died of end-stage cardiovascular disease Wednesday, July 13, at Assisi House, the retirement convent for her religious order in Aston, Delaware County.

Born in Norfolk, W. Va., she graduated from St. Joseph High School in Huntington, W. Va., moved to Philadelphia, was a clerical worker at John Wanamaker, and entered religious life in 1945.

After beginning her teaching career in Towson, Md., from 1946 to 1948, Sister McBride returned to Philadelphia to teach at Our Lady of Consolation School from 1948 to 1953.

She moved to Allentown to teach at Sacred Heart School from 1953 to 1961 before teaching at St. Francis DeSales School in Lenni, Delaware County, in 1961-62.

She earned a bachelor's degree in education at Villanova University in 1960.

Her three secondary school teaching assignments were at John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School from 1962 to 1964, at St. Pius X High School in Pottstown from 1964 to 1970, and at Hallahan from 1970 to 1976.

Sister McBride worked in the finance office for her religious order in Aston from 1976 to 1983 and in the library at St. Hubert High School from 1984 to 1987, and then tutored students at St. Mary of the Assumption School from 1987 to 1990.

Briefly, in 1983-84, she interrupted that string to teach at Blessed Sacrament School in Bally, Berks County.

She lived at the Neumann Convent in Reading from 1990 to 1999 and since then had served in prayer ministry at the Aston retirement convent.

She is survived by a nephew, nieces, and cousins.

A Christian wake was set for 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 18, at Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Rd., Aston, followed by a viewing and an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass, with burial in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Aston.