Memorial Services for Sister Eileen Ford

Sister Eileen Ford, 92, a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, died October 21^st, 2023 at Avera Mother Joseph Manor, Aberdeen, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 25^th in Presentation Place Chapel, 405 9th Ave NE, Aberdeen, SD. Reverend David Janes will be celebrant and homilist. Liturgical Wake service will be Tuesday, October 24th at 6:30 p.m. in Presentation Place Chapel. Interment at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S Main Street, is in charge of arrangements. Visitation one hour prior to services at Presentation Place Chapel. The services will be live streamed on www.spitzerfuneralhome.com.

Eileen Ann Ford was born September 16, 1931 in Roxbury, MA to Julia (Grady) and William Ford. She attended school in the Boston, Mass area. She received an associate degree from Presentation College. She professed vows August 10, 1952, receiving her religious name of Sister Virgine. After Vatican II, she took her name Eileen back. Her early ministries included sharing her gifts with others through domestic service, physical therapy assistance and a social service designee at many schools, hospitals and parishes throughout SD, MN, WI, and MT.

Sister Eileen ministered as a pastoral care associate at St. Luke’s Hospital and at Mother Joseph Manor, Aberdeen, SD in the adult day service program and continued visiting Mother Joseph Manor residents providing compassion and a listening heart to those in need. After retirement, she served others through the Foster Grandparent Program, where, for more than 10 years, she shared her smile, her eastern accent and gave her full attention to elementary students at C.C. Lee Elementary in Aberdeen. She commented, “I found the work uplifting and rewarding, and it filled me with a sense of joy.” She enjoyed playing Canasta, puzzles, walking, traveling, reading and visiting with friends.

She is survived by her community family of Presentation Sisters and her loving nieces, nephews and their families.

As the last living member of her immediate family, she is preceded in death by her parents; six sisters: Jane Lehan, Bridget Kupcewicz, Julie Ann Schuetz (Di Sangro) Mary Boucher, Margaret (Peggy) Pace and Patricia Barbati and four brothers: Tobias, Thomas, John and Rev. William Ford.