Sister Frances Mary Pierson, OP, died after a nine month battle with cancer at Saint Martin Residence, Fremont, CA, on August 4, 2020.   She was 71 years old and in the 50th year of her religious profession.  Born on January 8, 1949 in Pittsburg, CA, she was the daughter of Robert J. Pierson and Margaret Mary Mrasek.

She attended Nativity Elementary School, Los Angeles, and St. Michael’s High School, Los Angeles, where she met the Dominican Sisters.  In 1967 she entered the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose and made her first profession of vows on August 15, 1969.

For 25 years Sister Frances Mary taught in Catholic schools. Her assignments included St. Michael’s Elementary School and St. Ignatius School, Los Angeles; St. Edward’s School, Newark;  St. Elizabeth Elementary School, Oakland;  St. Frances Cabrini School, San Jose; School of the Madeline, Berkeley; and St. Boniface School, Anaheim, where she served as principal from 1980-1984.   For 19 years, she fulfilled a variety of responsibilities at the Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse, Mission San Jose, CA, including administrative assistant for the Vocation Team, local treasurer and prioress of Our Lady of Wisdom Community.

She is survived by her mother, Margaret Pierson, and her sisters—Jean Freet, Janice Gale DeMarchi, Debbie Lopez, Joyce Vargas, her brothers--Robert, Michael, Leonard, Steven, and Ralph, and half-brother, Robert Royce.

Funeral services were private.  Burial was at the Congregation’s cemetery, God’s Acre, located at the Motherhouse.