Sister Mary Seraphim Cox, O.S.C.

Sister Mary Seraphim of the Holy Name of Jesus was born Anne Marie Cox on September 22, 1932 in Boston, MA. She was the first daughter of Blanche and Leo Cox. Her siblings were Regina, Leo, and Francis, all deceased. She is survived by her sister, Gertrude and her five nieces and nephews, Paul Cunningham, Mary Jean Cunningham, Steven Cunningham, Gail Cunningham and Brian Cunningham, and grandnieces and nephews Caitlin Cunningham, Nicholas Cunningham, Sean Cunningham, Ryan Cunningham, Josephine Cunningham and Jessica Cunningham. After graduating from St. Thomas High School, sister attended one year of Boston Community College before entering the monastery. She entered the Monastery of St. Clare in Jamaica Plain, MA on July 2, 1951. She received the habit of a Poor Clare on May 26, 1952, made her First Profession of vows on Sept. 24th 1953 and her Final Profession on. In those days most monasteries had thirty or forty sisters, but Jamaica Plain was one of the largest and grew to more than sixty sisters. When sister entered the novitiate there were about twenty four novices, postulants and temporary professed. Sister learned to play the organ and did it for many years for the liturgy of the hours and Mass. She used her many gifts to assist the community in the office, as choir sacristan and in the vestment room and printing cards. Along with all the others, sister took her turn in the kitchen and refectory. She was elected to the Council for years and was secretary to the abbess. She came to Fort Myers Beach on March 18, 1989 after her father died. Shortly thereafter Sister took up the job of bookkeeper and held that job until a year before her death. She singlehandedly brought the community into the 21st Century, learning how to use the computer, and doing her job online. Her love for classical music never died although she had precious little time to listen to it. She kept up with her friends of whom she had many. You could mention a name at recreation and she would say, “I know him well.” She was only half teasing. She was a classmate of Bishop Robert Murphy, retired bishop of Brooklyn, with whom she kept in touch. Sister suffered a small stroke on July 11, 2021. She recovered but only partially being unable to use the computer or do the things she was used to. After about a year, sister was hospitalized for dehydration and when she returned to the monastery, she no long walked. She had no desire to eat and drank only a little. Her funeral will be at the Monastery of Saint Clare at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home, Family Owned Since 1978.

Sister Mary Seraphim Cox, O.S.C.

September 22, 1932 - September 16, 2022