Florence Anne Capling

Capling, Florence Anne (Sister Luke Marie, SNJM) Albany—On April 22, 1928, George and Augusta Capling gave birth to their tiny daughter, Florence Anne, in Fort Meyers, Fl. After a very full ninety years of love and service, Florence, known as Sister Luke Marie in her Holy Names of Jesus and Mary religious community, went on to the fullness of life on November 29, 2018, at her St. Joseph Provincial House, Latham, NY, retirement home. Young Florence had become an RN in Tampa, Fl, working and specializing in pediatric nursing. Though her love of children and care for the frail were her core professional gifts, she was attracted to religious life in a teaching community and entered the Holy Names novitiate in Rome, NY, in 1954. For many years she was their province’s only professional nurse. Her quiet, mature bearing, admiration of community founder Mother Marie Rose, and a convert’s appreciation of Catholicism seem to have characterized Sr. Luke’s early years as a sister and her life-long spirituality. Just two years after entering the convent, she became infirmarian at Academy of the Holy Names at 628 Madison Ave., Albany, NY, one of the largest Holy Names education centers. Her charges included the teen-aged young nuns and the 90-something older sisters, as well as the school children. When the facility had to be moved and the school closed, she presided over its re-establishment at the Holy Names Novitiate/College/Mother House at 1061 New Scotland Rd., Albany. She administered those infirmaries for 19 years, along the way mentoring three other sisters’ becoming professional nurses. With successor infirmarians now available, Sr. Luke transferred back to a large hospital setting in Tampa, Fl, where she was a highly esteemed staff nurse for over 18 years. Then, for the next ten years she was the campus nurse at Academy of the Holy Names, Tampa. Her early expertise in pediatrics and decades of caring for adults were real gifts to everyone there, and the children a particular delight to Sr. Luke herself. Over time when she began to pare back her nursing schedule, she became a virtual nanny for several Academy teachers, helping with their young children around the teachers’ work schedules and responsibilities—kind of a “sister grandma.” In all these years of ministries, Sr. Luke artfully served her religious family as both “sister” and “medical authority.” She had singular expertises which were essential in the direct care and health planning decisions of hundreds of sisters. In 2013, Sr. Luke Marie retired to senior living, with others of her Holy Names sisters and new St. Joseph friends, at the CSJ Provincial House, Latham, NY. She fully appreciated this time and setting for her prayer life, her friendships, and for catching up with her sister Carolyn in Florida and with her network of family and friends scattered across the Eastern US. These dear ones, and hundreds of unnamed patients, were privileged to know Sr. Luke Marie as a model of resilient strength, noble character, compassionate care, and loving service. This wonderful woman will be celebrated at the Mass of the Resurrection at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 5, 2018, in the Carondelet Chapel, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Rd., Latham. A “time of remembering” will precede the mass at 9:30. Interment at Calvary Cemetery , Glenmont, NY, will follow. If you wish, memorials in Sr. Luke’s honor may be sent to Sisters of the Holy Names, 1121 New Scotland Rd., Albany, NY 12208.

Florence Anne Capling

April 22, 1928 - November 29, 2018