LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Sister Frances Picone upon the occasion
of her retirement after more than 50 years of distinguished service to
the Sisters of Mercy

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to bring full recogni-
tion and just tribute to those men and women of religious commitment who
accept the responsibility of moral leadership and render the wisdom of
human understanding; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body also seeks to acknowledge those indi-
viduals whose professional lives and civic endeavors have served to
enhance the stature of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, In a career spanning over 50 years, Sister Frances "Fran"
Picone has rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to the
Sisters of Mercy and the community of Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Sister Frances Picone began her career as a teacher, attain-
ing her master's degree in Education from Long Island University; in
1978, she shifted her focus to working with elderly people, and
completed a second master's degree in Gerontology from the University of
Michigan; in addition she received a Post Masters Certificate in Geron-
tology from Hunter/Brookdale College Center for Aging; and
WHEREAS, Sister Frances Picone served in a number of important posi-
tions during her exemplary career; she was the Director of Retirement
for the Sisters of Mercy Brooklyn and Long Island, and worked with
Catholic Charities Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens, in a variety of posi-
tions including Regional Administrator for the Brooklyn East Region; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed woman brought a special quality of determi-
nation and passion to her work every day on behalf of senior citizens;
she was known as someone who never said "No" to those in need and never
took "No" for an answer on their behalf; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, Sister Frances Picone became Director of Services
for Older Adults at Lutheran Family Health Centers and Lutheran Health-
Care in Brooklyn, New York; she was responsible for service coordination
for the residents of senior housing complexes, for two neighborhood
centers for older adults, and for the Seniors in Touch adult day
program; in addition, she led the Bay Ridge on the Move transportation
program, as well as health promotion and wellness services for older
adults; and
WHEREAS, Recently, Sister Frances Picone has also worked to develop
greater interfaith partnerships in the promotion of congregational
health and wellness; furthermore, she serves on the boards of directors
for THE TABLET newspaper, Mercy Home, and mercyFirst; and
WHEREAS, As a Sister of Mercy for over 50 years, this remarkable lead-
er and caregiver consistently embodied her order's core values of spir-
ituality, community, service and social justice; she was governed by a
keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention, it
is appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that
individual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Sister Frances Picone upon the occasion of her retirement after
more than 50 years of distinguished service to the Sisters of Mercy; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Sister Frances Picone.