Sister Claire Foken

November 12, 1923-July 11, 2022

“You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst.” Psalms 23:5

Born of German immigrant parents, S. Claire Foken grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, attending St. William grade school and Seton High School. S. Claire entered the Sisters of Charity Community in February of her senior year. Her Seton classmates had a farewell party for her. At that time her message to the attendees, “My only hope is that each of you, no matter what you do in life, may someday be as happy as I am today.” S. Claire was one of three family members to enter the Sisters of Charity, including two siblings, and credits Sisters Miriam O’Day and Marie Emmanuel Streit as inspiring her to follow her call to religious life. She celebrated 81 years as a Sister of Charity in 2022.

S. Claire’s ministries spanned more than 55 years, equally spent in education and pastoral ministry. Most of her teaching years were in the high school classroom, sharing her expertise in English and literature at schools in Ohio, New Mexico, Colorado and Michigan over the course of 20 years. The last seven years she served as an assistant high school principal at Holy Angels, Sidney, Ohio (1965’70); Catholic Central High, Springfield (1970-’71); and Marian High, Cincinnati (1971-’72).

In 1973 S. Claire began a new career as a pastoral associate at St. William parish (Cincinnati) where she served for 27 years. Her ministry covered areas of personal care for seniors, housing, employment, transportation, clothing, food and health care. Parish members valued her endless energy, organizational skills and generous spirit. She enlisted parishioners of all ages, activated a Network of Prayer and initiated an annual Giving Tree which included parish shut-ins and needy of the community. It was a ministry that called forth her many person-centered gifts. In 1976 she received Price Hill’s Most Distinguished Citizen Award and was honored with the Citizen of the Year Award for Community Service in 1978.

Father Francis Kennedy, St. William pastor, spoke of S. Claire’s multifaceted contributions to the life of the parish at the time of her retirement in 2000. “Little did I know, or dream in my wildest expectations, how resourceful and invaluable her ministry would be, particularly to the senior members of our parish. Her ever acute and active mind and power of observation far exceeded one’s ability to evaluate them. She always saw and expressed a real need before others could ascertain it; she already had a solution and already had put it into operation.”

S. Claire had a tremendous love of nature and how it speaks of God. In her retirement she enjoyed writing and painting as well as gardening, playing bridge and being with people, especially close friends.