Sister M. Paschal Cheng of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis died on Nov. 14 at St. Francis Convent in Springfield. She was 95.

The former Theresa Cheng (Chinese name: Cheng Fu Hsin), she was born in Ho Pei Tsao in the People's Republic of China on Aug. 7, 1919, the daughter of John and Martha Ho Cheng. She entered the congregation on Oct. 8, 1945 and professed her religious vows on Oct. 4, 1948.

Sister Paschal attended St. John's School of Nursing. She served the community in the sewing room at the motherhouse from 1948-1968. She was a missionary at the Star of the Sea Clinic in Taiwan from 1968-1978 and again from 1986-1989, coming home for a short time in 1973 to serve as an EKG technician at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville. She was an LPN at the motherhouse from 1978-1986. She then served as assistant sacristan at the motherhouse from 1989-2004.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers: Joseph, Mathew, Peter and Vincent Cheng; and one sister Mary Cheng.

She is survived by her great-nephew, Cheng Yao Dong and his wife, Baoxiang Cui, as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for more than 69 years.

The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial was celebrated by Father Andre Schludecker, OFM, on Nov. 18 in the St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent. Burial was in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery. Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.