Sister Mary Vincent Fritton, 98, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth (SCL), died on March 10, 2020, in the SCL Mother House, Leavenworth, Kan. Sister celebrated her 75th anniversary as an SCL in 2018. She entered the religious community following her college graduation and served as a Sister in a variety of educational, administrative and pastoral care assignments. She was known for a powerful operatic singing voice, a passion for Latin, a careful attention to detail, prayerful devotion, and a warm servant’s heart. She embodied the SCL characteristic virtues of simplicity, humility and charity.
Helen Lenora was born on Sept. 8, 1921 in Topeka, Kan., the youngest of three daughters of Benno V. and Josephine (Zeidler) Fritton. A strong German Catholic heritage predominated on both sides of her family. She attended St. Joseph’s (Topeka) Grade School and Topeka Catholic High School before pursuing a music education degree, along with concentrations in Latin and religion, at Saint Mary College, Leavenworth. After college, Helen entered the SCL Community on Sept. 1, 1943 and professed vows as Sister Mary Vincent on March 6, 1945.
Sister Mary Vincent taught in high schools in Kansas, Montana and Colorado, where she enjoyed teaching vocals and directing choral groups. She interrupted her teaching ministry to serve one year as dean of women in the nurses’ home at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colo. Her love for people and spirituality led to a post-graduate certification in clinical pastoral education (CPE) in 1978. This training enabled her to provide pastoral care in several hospitals and Catholic ministries in succeeding years.
Sister Mary Vincent had a reputation for being thorough and careful. Her meticulous, sharp-eyed nature found expression not only in note-taking and list-making, but proofreading books, something at which she was most adept. Her multifaceted abilities in singing, teaching, administration, pastoral care, and proofreading were a gift to associates and friends.
Preceding Sister Mary Vincent in death were her parents and her two sisters, Cecilia Fritton Shaughnessy and Florence Fritton Kelly. Survivors include one cousin, Joe Fritton, who lives in Topeka, Kan., and nieces and nephew.
Submitted by Bryon McLaughlin, Director of Communications, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
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