Mary Frances Schervier was born into a wealthy family in Aachen, Germany. Her father, Johann Heinrich Schervier was a wealthy needle factory owner and the vice-mayor of Aachen. Her mother, Maria Louise Migeon, was the god-daughter of Emperor Francis I of Austria. After the death of both her mother and two sisters from tuberculosis, Mary Frances become the homemaker for her father, and established a reputation for generosity to the poor. In 1844 she entered the Third Order of St. Francis. The following year, she and four companions established a religious community devoted to caring for the poor. On 2 July 1851, the local bishop approved the "Poor Sisters of St. Francis", and the congregation soon spread. An American foundation was established within seven years of its founding, to serve Ge