Sister Patricia Anne Jones Robert Anne

1934 - 2014 Obituary
Sister Patricia Anne Jones Robert Anne Obituary
Patricia Anne Jones, known as Sister Robert Anne SSJ

Patricia Anne Jones born December 15, 1934 died August 26, 2014 in Clarence, New York where the motherhouse of her order of Roman Catholic nuns was located.

Born in Crystal Lake, IL to William and Josephine Jones, Sister was predeceased by her parents and her two siblings, sister Jerry Jones Sullivan and brother Robert Jones. Sister is survived by two nephews and four nieces - Pat (Sally) Sullivan of Pensacola, Nan Sullivan (Brian) McDonald of Columbia, TN, Robert Jones, Jr of Atlanta, GA, Karen Jones (Brett) Austin of Chattanooga, TN, Julie Jones (Keith) Hart of SC, and Ruthie Jones (Tom) Ellis of Atlanta, GA. Sister also had 8 grand nephews and nieces.

In addition to her family, Sister Robert Anne leaves behind numerous friends, colleagues, contacts, students and proteges who will cherish her memory and the times they had with her.

Sister's life was an example of the meaning of the words "Service to God through Service to Others". She joined the convent at the age of 16 and taught at several schools in the Buffalo, NY area including St Aloysius, St Mark, St Boniface, the Cathedral School and Mt St Joseph School.

Sister also taught in Dunkirk, NY at Sr Elizabeth Ann Seton and Sacred Heart schools. She also taught in Medina, Falcone, Oneonta and Blasdell, NY, as well as, Nashua, NH. However, in the panhandle of Florida, she was best known for the time she served as principal of St Michael School in Pensacola (1991-2004) and for her remaining career time until April 2014 when she was a teacher at St Mary's School in Fort Walton Beach.

Not originally assigned to Pensacola, Sister Robert Anne came here to help her sister with the care of their mother. To get a "break" Sister volunteered at St Michael in Pensacola where a job "with children" eventually became a job as principal. Sister was a leader of arguably, at the time, the oldest school in the State of Florida. She had to work with issues such as school vouchers and the lack of affiliation to a regular Catholic Parish with the attendant financial burdens. Throughout the trying times, Sister would often argue 'it has to be about the children"...using this as her stalwart guiding principle when challenged, for example, about accepting controversial vouchers. Never one to shy from the defense of those in need, Sister donated her salary and would do as much as she could to educate as many as possible for as low a tuition as possible. She ardently believed in Catholic school education. If she could have arranged it, there would be free tuition for all children to attend any Catholic school.

When her position in Pensacola ended, Sister found a new home and final teaching assignment in Fort Walton Beach. As the first nun to teach at St Mary's, Sister Robert Anne taught math and was the religious education coordinator up until this spring. She also helped manage a shelter for unwed mothers.

In June 2011, Sister celebrated her 60th anniversary as a Sister of St Joseph. St Mary's school held a surprise reception for Sister Robert Anne which included a very funny musical spoof of her teaching/mentoring style which Sister enjoyed with grace and good spirit.

In her final years, Sister was an outspoken advocate of RC priests charged with abuse. She was again looking out and defending those she believed were unjustly treated and unfairly accused. It was a controversial position to many. However, as in the case where she defended voucher students, Sister Robert Anne would say what she meant, mean what she said and live and act guided by her belief system founded in the Trinity. She was an incredible role model in this life.

If anyone reading this obituary was ever blessed by the work of a Catholic educator, if you ever attended a Catholic school or had a chance to know and appreciate an educator such as Sister, you are encouraged to donate in her memory to the remaining Catholic Schools in the Pensacola area or to St Mary's School in Fort Walton Beach. Additionally donations can be sent to the Sisters of St Joseph, 10324 Main St, Clarence NY 14031.

A funeral Mass for Sister will take place at the Sisters of St Joseph Clarence Residence at 10 am on Saturday, August 30th, with burial to follow in the Sisters of St Joseph Section of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo NY. A Memorial Mass will take place at St Mary Church in Fort Walton Beach at a future date. On Tuesday, October 14th, the daily Mass at 12:10 pm at the Basilica of St Michael in downtown Pensacola will be offered in Sister's memory.


Published in Pensacola News Journal on Aug. 31, 2014