Sister M. Francis Kuo, OSF, of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, died on Oct. 24 at St. Francis Convent in Springfield. She was 97 years old.

Sister Francis, the former Mary Kuo, was born in Beijing, China on Jan. 12, 1920, the daughter of Joseph Kuo and Ann Shon. She entered the congregation on March 25, 1944 and professed her religious vows on Sept. 17, 1947 in Tsinan, China. Sister Francis had to leave her homeland in 1948 when the Communist threat became serious. She and the other sisters traveled to Springfield, leaving behind their ministry to the sick and poor in their hospitals and clinics.

In 1953, Sister Francis completed her studies at St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing and ministered as a nurse in HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin from 1953 to 1963. She became a U.S. citizen in 1963. In 1964, she completed a program in histology and ministered in HSHS hospitals in Wisconsin and Illinois as a histology technician until 1994 when she retired to the motherhouse.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Francis Kuo and Chung Chiang Kuo; and a sister, Agnes Kuo.

She is survived by a sister, Mary C.J. Kuo; several nieces and nephews; and a great-nephew, all of the People’s Republic of China; as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for over 73 years.

The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial was held on Oct. 30 in St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent with Father Andre Schludecker, OFM, as celebrant. Burial was in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery.

The Franciscan Sisters and the family of Sister Francis were served by Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home in Springfield.