Sister Beth Ann Finster, SSJ, 1947-2025

Sister Beth Ann Finster, SSJ, teacher and campus minister, died suddenly at Mercy hospital July 1 at age 77.

Born in Buffalo Oct. 20, 1947, Sister was the first child of John and Mary Agnes “Babe” (Zink) Finster.  Her father was a captain in the Buffalo Fire Department.

Following her graduation from Mount St. Joseph Academy in Buffalo, Sister entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in September 1965, received the religious name Sister John Francis and pronounced her final vows in May 1973. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Medaille College, Buffalo, and master’s degrees from Xavier University, Cincinnati (1977) and Loyola University of Chicago (1989).

Sister taught upper grades for several years at St. Mark and St. Margaret schools in Buffalo. She was in the history department of Mount St. Joseph Academy also in Buffalo from 1977-1985.

Sister became part of the University of Detroit (later Detroit/Mercy) in 1985 and engaged in campus life for 33 years, living in a freshman dorm. As a campus minister and then assistant director of Campus Ministries, she was part of retreat teams, ministered at liturgies and directed the university’s Hunger Week and service trips during alternative spring breaks. She strongly believed that spiritual experience is important to human growth and that faith must be experiential. Retiring in 2018, she returned to Buffalo.

Sister Beth served as a general councilor of the Sisters of St. Joseph from 1993 to 1997 and again from 2019 to the present. She directed the congregation’s Office of Mission Advancement during 2020 and was very active in the congregation’s work for peace and justice. She became a member of the board of trustees of St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in 2022.

Discussing politics energized Sister, as did travel, gardening, reading and baking.

Sister is survived by her brother John, nieces Margaret Finster and Mary Miller, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A funeral Mass will be offered July 19 at the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence, Clarence.   Friends may visit the Sisters of St. Joseph Clarence Residence, 4975 Strickler Rd., Clarence, NY 14031 on Thursday (July 10, 2025) from 2-4pm. A funeral Mass will immediately follow at 4 p.m. in the chapel of the Sisters of St. Joseph Clarence Residence. Mass may be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/buffalossj. Burial services will take place at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1411 Delaware Ave., Buffalo on Friday, July 11, at 10 a.m.