Sr. Marie Kramer, 98, Phila. teacher

Sister Marie Kramer, 98, a teacher and administrator in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for more than 50 years, died Saturday, May 11, in Assisi House in Aston.

She was a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 79 years.

She was baptized as Marie, but took the name Clare Albertine upon entering the convent. When nuns were given the option of returning to their baptismal name after the Second Vatican Council, she did so.

Born in Easton, Pa., she was a graduate of St. Joseph's Commercial Institute. After completing her high school studies, she professed her first vows in 1934.

Sister Marie earned a bachelor's degree in education from Villanova University in 1954 and taught at both the elementary and secondary school levels.

Sister Marie was active for 71 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, 54 of them in education.

She taught at St. Francis DeSales School; St. Ludwig School; St. Stanislaus School, Lansdale; St. Bonaventure School; and Nativity School, Media.

From 1965 to 1969, she was principal of St. Mary School in Schwenksville. She taught religion at St. Maria Goretti High School from 1969 to 1978 and was moderator of the Science Resource Center at John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School from 1978 to 1996.

Sister Marie also taught in the Diocese of Allentown in the 1940s and 1960s.

A colleague, Sister Ann Marie Slavin, said Sister Marie often referred to her life as a trip along an interesting, sometimes perplexing, path.

"What an exciting journey it was, as I reflect on the many experiences in my life: joys and sorrows, adjusting to new ways, facing challenges, dealing with each new assignment," she wrote several years ago.

On retiring in 1996, she lived at St. Francis Convent in Philadelphia until moving to Assisi House in 2000.

She is survived by nieces and nephews.

A Christian wake service will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 16, followed by a viewing in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Rd., Aston. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. at the house. Interment will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Aston.

Donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, Pa. 19014.

Condolences may be offered at www.lyonsfs.com.