Age 85
Sister Elizabeth (Betsy) McMillan (Sister Mary Francis), a Pittsburgh Sister of Mercy for 67 years, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She entered the Sisters of Mercy from St. Margaret Parish in Narberth, Pennsylvania, in 1954 and made final vows in 1960.
She earned a BA from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University), a master’s degree from Marquette University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Louvain in Belgium. She taught at Carlow University from 1969 to 1982, the last years of which she worked as dean of the college. Sister Betsy later assumed duties of senior associate for Catholic Health Association of the United States in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1992, she moved to Central America, where she served for almost 15 years teaching and lecturing in theology at Instituto Centroamericano de Ciencias Religiosas, Instituto Superior de Estudios Misioneros Pablo VI in Guatemala and working in vocation ministry in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She returned to the United States in 2007.
Sister Betsy’s entire life was in service to the needs of people and the Church. Multilingual, she never denied any request for her talents as she uprooted to wherever she was asked to go. Her brilliant mind was matched by her generous heart.
Sister Betsy was such a bright and vibrant person. During her years as dean at Carlow, she helped many students not only with their academics but with their lives. She was truly a good friend.