Mary Frances Schervier was a German Catholic nun born in 1819 in Aachen. After the death of her mother and sisters, she dedicated her life to serving the impoverished and sick in her home region. In 1851, she founded the Poor Sisters of St. Francis, a religious community focused on nursing and social work. Her order expanded significantly, eventually establishing hospitals and care facilities in both Germany and the United States, including important institutions in Cincinnati and Covington.