Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis

Sister M. Genevieve Sato

✝ Sunday, July 17th 2022

"O Mother of grace, we pray Thee, guide us in our prayer.  Guide us as we pray "All that we pray to Thee,Our Lord will surely hear us." (Japanese Catholic hymn 321)

From the Japanese Province, we received the following death message from the Provincial Superior Sister Maria Furukawa OSF:

“This morning, July 17, at 8:54 a.m., our beloved Sister M. Genevieve Tokiko Sato passed away peacefully at Himeji St. Mary's Hospital in the presence of her classmate Sister M. Gratia, several Sisters, and the ward staff at the age of 96.

Sister was born on October 5, 1926 in Omura City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Sister grew up with six siblings: her elder sister, Sister herself, three younger brothers and a younger sister, and we are told that she was strictly disciplined as the oldest daughter of a good family with deep Shinto faith.

Sister was baptized (Theresa) at Isahaya Church in 1949, joined our community in February 1952, was invested in October of the same year, and professed her first vows in October 1954.　

She graduated from the College of Pharmacy before joining our Cngregation, and worked as a pharmacist at Nagasaki University Hospital. After that spent time as a Pharmacist at St. Francis Hospital in Nagasaki before the entrance. After taking her first vows, she was sent to Himeji St. Mary's Hospital and St. Francis Hospital, where she worked as a meticulous pharmacist and manager. During that time, she also served as a provincial councilor and convent superior. I was also impressed by the sharing of the Sisters at the wake, where Sister was characterized by her elegance and calmness in everything she did, and that she had a good sense of core strength.

The funeral service will be officiated by Fr. Akira Fujiwara, OFM, and Fr. Keishiro Furusato, OFM who came to Himeji from Nagasaki to lead the annual retreat. Tomorrow, Brother Sato, OFM will come from Osaka to attend the service.

Brother Sato often visited his sister, Sister M. Genevieve on a regular basis until the time of the Corona Disaster. They maintained a very close sister-brother relationship. Brother also expressed his gratitude to the Congregation.

After the farewell service, we will go to the Nagoyama funeral hall for cremation. Since the funeral is held in the Corona Disaster, we will follow the guidance of the region.　

Let us give thanks for Sister M. Genevive's lifelong consecrated life in our Congregation and place everything in God's hands and pray for Sister's eternal peace.”