SR ANN FRANCES GROSS, ASC, 88. died peacefully at 9:40 pm, Sunday, January 8, 2023 at
Benedictine Living Community on the grounds of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows near
Belleville, Illinois.
Sr. Ann Frances was born on November 19, 1934 in Evansville, Illinois, she was baptized Anna Lee
and was the ninth of ten children in the family of Michael and Martha (nee Bleem) Gross. Michael and
Martha had four daughters join the ASC community in Ruma, Illinois.
Sr. Ann Frances made her first profession on July 1, 1954 and her final vows on July 1, 1959. She has
been professed for 68 years.
During her 46 years in the nursing profession, Sr. Ann Frances played an essential role in several
projects which increased the services offered by the three hospitals where she worked. At St.
Vincent’s in Taylorville, she supervised the renovation of the emergency room. She also played a vital
role in the education and training of operating room technicians and assisted them in reaching
certification. At St. Clement’s in Red Bud, she assisted in setting up orthopedic, eye and neurological
clinics. At St. Joseph’s in Murphysboro, she set up the obstetric department in the newly-opened
hospital. She felt called to nurse the whole person back to health and championed for the best care for
her patients.
Qualities that people found admirable in Sr. Ann Frances were her love of children, her positive
attitude, and her strong sense of responsibility. She accepted with valor the blindness that came in her
later years.
She is survived by her sister - Sr. Mildred Gross, ASC, her sister-in-law Loretta Gross, many nieces
and nephews and members of the ASC community.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 5 Brothers – Paul (Margaret) Gross, Leo (Ethel) Gross,
Milton (Dorothy) Gross, Francis Gross and a baby brother who died at birth; and 3 Sisters – Florence
(Raymond) Bussman, Sr. Marina Gross, ASC and Sr. Mary Martin Gross, ASC.
Mass of Christian Burial: 11:15 am, Friday, January 13, 2023
Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
726 Community Drive, Belleville, Illinois
Immediately following Mass, the funeral procession will travel to the
Convent Cemetery in Ruma, Illinois for burial
Visitation: Friday – 9:15 am – 11:15 am
Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
Donation in memory of Sister Ann Frances Gross may be sent to the ASC Retirement Fund, 4233
Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109 or online at www.adorers.org “Support our Ministries”
To view this obituary and sign the register book, visit www.wpfh.net
