THE Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica and the Americas, colleagues and friends, are mourning the passing of Sister Mary Susan Frazer, area administrator for the Sisters of Mercy in Jamaica.

Sister Susan, who passed away in the USA last Friday, was well known for the extensive development of the St John Bosco Vocational Training Centre in Hatfield, Manchester, and her work with the Alpha community in Kingston.

She began her work at St John Bosco Boys’ Home in 1977, where she became a much-beloved mother figure to hundreds of boys in State care.

Using her knack for enterprise and innovation Sister Susan led the charge, alongside Sister Noreen, in developing new trade programmes and multiple on-campus businesses which made the school more financially sustainable, and which still exist today.

Due to her remarkable leadership and commitment to developing young Jamaicans, Sister Susan was, over the years, appointed as the executive director of the St John Bosco Boys’ Home, Alpha Girls’ School, and Alpha Boys’ School.

In recent years, after decades of nurturing and educating children and youth, Sister Susan made the decision to transition the residential programmes at Alpha Boys’ School and St John Bosco into skills training day programmes.

Digicel Foundation CEO Charmaine Daniels (left) sharing good times with Sister of Mercy Executive Director Sister Susan. In 2016 Sister Susan became the area administrator of the Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica — a role which she performed with the utmost dedication and grace.

Throughout her life, Sister Susan Frazer used her work ethic, humour, warmth, and faith in God to make an indelible mark.

Born in Hancock, Michigan in 1948, Susan Frazer was first introduced to the Sisters of Mercy while attending McAuley High (a Mercy-owned high school) in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was inspired to enter the Sisters of Mercy’s religious community in 1966 upon her graduation.

In order to discern her specific calling, she was sent to Jamaica in 1971. In Kingston, Jamaica, she served at the Alpha Girls’ School followed by the Alpha Boys’ School, before returning to the United States where she made her final vows and worked as a social worker in a Cincinnati hospital ministry. Despite this, Sister Susan still felt a call to serve in Jamaica — a place which became home for her.

Sister Susan Frazer received wide recognition for her life-changing efforts. These include the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer from the Government of Jamaica; the Rotary Club of Mandeville’s Paul Harris Award; the Manchester Chamber of Commerce award for service to the community; Mercy Action Fund honour; and accolades from the Manchester Cultural Development Commission for her service in social work.