Sr. Lilian Bernard Lynch, a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady congregation who served board leadership roles with Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, died April 3 at the age of 88.
Sr. Lynch had served on the FMOLHS Board of Trustees from January 2016 to May 2022, where she held the position of secretary. She was on the Our Lady of the Lake Board of Directors from January 2012 to December 2015.
She was an original member of the system's public juridic person, Franciscan Calais Ministries, from its inception in September 2018 until May 2022.
Sr. Lynch began working at Our Lady of the Lake hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1962. She was supervisor of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Department. In that position, she helped found the Baton Rouge Regional Eye Bank, a nonprofit that supplies tissues to surgeons for use in restoring sight.
Her commitment also included terms on the Provincial Council of the North American Province of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady.
Pete Guarisco Jr., senior vice president, mission integration for the health system, had known Sr. Lynch for about 25 years and said she was a soft-spoken, petite woman. "Her presence was oftentimes a silent presence," he said. "When she spoke, the room stopped and listened, because it was always very philosophical and practical at the same time. I think that's a gift that a lot of people just don't possess, to be able to be connected, but also very practical."
He said anytime anyone asked Sr. Lynch to pray for them, she responded: "You can count on it. I'm going to say three Hail Marys for you."
Services for Sr. Lynch were April 7 at St. Francis Chapel on the campus of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Maryville Convent in Baton Rouge.