Francis Clare

Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, by parents Earl and Rosabel Johnson, along with his siblings Delmar, Ken, Lorraine, and predeceased by Vivian. He would later change his name to Francis Clare.

A bit of a rebel, young “David” (Francis) worked on the Great Lake's freighters, a hardened role where crew often drank and did soft drugs to make time go by. He was on Lake Superior when the Edmond Fitzgerald went down. In search of deeper meaning, Francis set off for India, where he studied meditation and yoga, eventually becoming Hindu.

While living in Vancouver with other Hindus, he watched a documentary about Mother Theresa and became very inspired. He so wanted to meet her, it happened that three months later, she opened a convent in Vancouver. Francis’s Chinese employers, who were Catholic, took him to meet the Missionaries of Charity (MC) at Corpus Christi parish, where they were based at the time. He began to volunteer regularly with them. Their ministry was in the downtown east side of Vancouver, better known as Skid Road. Every week, he gave most of his free time to them and their work. Through their dedication, example and prayer life, he became interested in the Catholic Faith. After a year of instruction, he was baptized in 1994.

Over the next few years, he became very inspired by the life and spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and his sister St. Clare, namely, simplicity, humility and obedience to accept the will of God. He was already living these virtues, so he decided to break away from his dysfunctional past and begin a new life in the service of Jesus Christ. He legally changed his name from David Johnson to Francis Clare, an odd move at first, but his new name really described his personality and way of living. He stayed at many different MC convents in North America, helping the sisters in Canada, the US and Mexico. During his time in S.F. he was thrilled to personally drive Mother Theresa on one of her visitations to the convent in San Francisco.

Francis worked for several years at the MC house called 'Gift of Love' in S.F. While there, he took care of men dying of AIDS at a time when most people wouldn't go near them out of fear. He fed them, he talked to them, he washed them, and most importantly, held their hands and prayed with them as they lay dying. He was an angel of mercy during a time when the men needed it most.

Later, he was employed for years at Holy Rosary Cathedral Vancouver, where he was known for his work on the complex organ restoration project. In Vancouver, he also took a part-time job as a courier driver, which gave him inner freedom to do what he most wanted, to be a contemplative in the world and be a man of prayer. He lived like a monk until the Covid pandemic when he met Gemma Borromeo, a good Catholic Filipina. After Marriage, Gemma and he went to the Philippines to visit her family; the trip gave him much joy.

Francis’ life as a kind, gentle, humble person who deeply cared for others' lives has touched so many. Knowing him has inspired us to be better persons. He will never be forgotten. We now have a friend with God in Heaven who can intercede for us on our journey to join him, basking in the Beatific Glory of Jesus in that special place that He has prepared for each of us. Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord. May he rest in peace!

He fought a most courageous battle with prostate cancer.
Many Thanks to the staff at May's Place Hospice Vancouver for the care he received.

Funeral mass: Dec 11 at 11:30  am, Gardens of Gethsemani Chapel
Burial: afterwards on Dec 11, at 12:30 pm
Prayers and viewing will be offered during the hour before the funeral mass

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Missionaries of Charity.