Sister Anne Furnstahl, age 95, died on August 26, 2023, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn.
Anne Virginia Furnstahl was born on May 3, 1928, in Randall, Minn. She was the fifth of seven children born to the late Joseph and Catherine (Treacy) Furnstahl.
She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on August 12, 1948, and was given the name Sister Mary Cloud. She later reverted to her baptismal name. She made her first profession of vows on August 12, 1950, and final vows on August 12,1953. She was a Franciscan Sister for 75 years.
Sister Anne attended elementary school in Randall. After graduating from St. Francis High School in 1945, she worked as an inspector at the Munsingwear Plant in Little Falls. During the summer months she was a can clerk at the cannery in Little Falls where people brought their meat, poultry and vegetables to be canned.
Sister Anne was familiar with the Franciscan Sisters not only through those who taught summer religion classes at her parish and who were her teachers at St. Francis High School but also because her aunt, Sister Stephen Treacy, was a member of the Franciscan Community as well as her two sisters, Sisters Therese and Mary Leone.
Sister Anne served in Osakis, St. Cloud, Pine River, St. Paul and Little Falls. She ministered as a religion teacher, homemaker, cook, house mother, office clerk, receptionist and in hospitality. Later, she was the director of the Altar Bread Department at St. Francis Convent for 42 years, supplying altar breads for many parishes of various denominations not only in Minnesota but in other states as well. During this time, she gave countless tours of the Altar Bread Department, especially to children preparing for their First Holy Communion. She used those opportunities to speak to them about vocations to the priesthood and religious life. She became close friends with the pastors, parish secretaries, sacristans and others who contacted her for their altar bread supplies. After the ministry discontinued, she kept in touch with many of these friends and, in turn, many of them called her to ask for her prayers or just to visit.
Sister Anne was a woman of warm hospitality. She was an excellent seamstress and generously gave of her time to alter clothing for the sisters. She also had a talent for gift wrapping and offered that service. After the closing of the altar bread ministry, she accompanied sisters to appointments and graciously ran errands whenever there was a need. She enjoyed spending time with the sisters who were receiving care at Clare Residence. She also was known to do many kind deeds for others quietly behind the scenes.
In the last years, due to diminishing eyesight, Sister Anne could no longer play Scrabble and card games that she enjoyed in the past. She liked listening to the radio, hearing others read to her, and visiting with friends and sisters who brought her the latest news of the community. At the time of her 75th Jubilee, she said, “I am grateful for the many graces I have received to accept the challenges and difficulties as well as to rejoice in the happy and affirming experiences during these years.”
Sister Anne was preceded in death by her parents and siblings John, Sister Mary Leone, OSF, Charles, Joseph and Leo. Survivors include her sister, Sister Therese, OSF, sisters-in-law Arlene, Little Falls, Carol, Pine River, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews and her Franciscan Community.
A wake was held for Sister Anne on August 31, 2023. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on September 1, 2023, at St. Francis Convent.
