Sr. Francesca Husselbeck

Albany- Sister Mary Francesca (Alice) Husselbeck, died Sunday, January 19, 2025 in St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, New York. Born in Latham, New York, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Margaret LaBombard Husselbeck. Fran earned an associate degree from Maria College, Albany; a bachelor's degree in education from Russell Sage in Troy; and a master's degree from St. Michael's, Winooski, Vermont. Sister entered the Presentation Sisters in 1955 at St. Colman's Home in Watervliet, where she spent many happy years with the children who resided there. In 1976, she became a Sister of Mercy and spent the rest of her life devoted to their charism. Her ministries included teaching at St. Ambrose School in Latham; Sacred Heart School in Albany; St. Paul's in Schenectady and Catholic Central High School, Troy. Sister Francesca was one of the co-creators of Bridge Center in Schenectady. She served as program director at Arbor House and as co-director of North Country Ministry in North Warren County. In 1999, Father George Fleming as Pastor and she as Parish Life Director modeled a form of pastoral leadership enriching the parishes in the Northern Points Cluster (Blessed Sacrament, Hague; St. John the Baptist, Chestertown; and St. James, North Creek). Her ministry from 2006 until retiring in 2012 was as Parish Life Director at St. James Parish in North Creek. Fran's ministries were varied; her deep spirituality, her openness to everyone and her ability to see God in whomever she met enabled her to make a difference in the lives of those to whom and with whom she ministered. One of her greatest sources of spiritual nourishment was her time spent in nature. She was an avid hiker, snow shoer and amateur naturalist. She was nourished spiritually outdoors. She found God in the call of the birds, cloud formations, rocks, moss, ocean sunrises, the moon and the mountains. Frannie climbed the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks, the 35 highest peaks in the Catskills, the Presidential Range in New Hampshire and the highest peaks in Vermont. One might say she had many highs in her life. Both of Sister Francesca's parents are deceased as are her brothers, Reverend Francis Husselbeck and Joseph. She is survived by her sister, Ellen Feeney (Gary) and many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Relatives and Friends are invited to attend the reception of the body Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the Chapel of the Convent of Mercy, 634 New Scotland Avenue, Albany. A wake will follow, with a service of remembrance at 6:30 p.m. The Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be celebrated at 9:30a.m. Friday, January 24, 2025. Interment will follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. Contributions in Sister Francesca's memory may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 634 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208.