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In Memoriam - 2009
Sister Mary Elizabeth Boyle Sister Anita Marie Hensel
Sister M. Christina Stoecklein Sister M. Francina Skergan
Sister Kevin Mary Mannion Sister William Ann Dailey
Sister Mary Florence Scott Sister Mary Noreen Lacey
SISTER MARY ELIZABETH BOYLE, SC
Sister Mary Elizabeth Boyle, SC (formerly Sister Raymond Marie) age 77, died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland, Florida, on January 12, 2009. A Pittsburgh native, Sister Mary Elizabeth entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1950, from Saint Kieran Parish in Lawrenceville. Preceded in death by her parents, Joseph R. and Alice M. (Sheehan) Boyle, a brother, William C. Boyle and a sister, Kathleen Boyle O’Hare, she is survived by two sisters Loretta B. Bice and Sister Joann Boyle, SC, brother-in-law, Edward O’Hare, and nephews, Donald Jay (Marianne) Bice, and nieces, Jan Marie (Richard) Ritchie and Kathleen Marie Bice and good friend, Sister Carmel Rose Saizan, OSF. Sister Mary Elizabeth earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hill University and a master’s degree in reading and language arts from the University of Pittsburgh. A teacher of children of the primary grades, she taught students in schools of the Greensburg, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, and Columbus dioceses and the Archdiocese of Washington. She was principal at Holy Cross School in Youngwood. Sister Mary Elizabeth received an Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America Award in 1975 that included an article in Who’s Who in America. She initiated a “Readiness Program” for children entering first grade at Mother of Sorrows School in Murrysville and demonstrated the effectiveness of the program at the 1975 Tri-State Teachers’ convention in Pittsburgh. In 1991, Sister Mary Elizabeth began an affiliation with hospice care, ministering to the frail and elderly population, in Lakeland, Florida. In reflecting on her life as a Sister of Charity, she stated, “I am grateful to God for the gift of faith, the grace of perseverance, and the generous support of my community, my family and friends.”
SISTER ANITA MARIE HENSEL, SC
SISTER ANITA MARIE HENSEL, SC, age 81, died at Caritas Christi, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Greensburg, on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Born in Springdale, PA, Sister Anita Marie entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8,1946, from Saint Augustine Parish in Lawrenceville, PA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick W. Jr. and F. Genevieve (Hall) Hensel, brother, Frederick W. Hensel, III, and a sister, Jane (Jerry) Hornyak. She is survived by a brother, George T. (Patricia), two sisters, Genevieve (Robert) Barber and Regina (Jack) McKee, cousin, Sister Brycelyn Eyler, SC, and numerous nieces and nephews. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hill University and taught students of the primary level in Dioceses of Greensburg, Lafayette, LA, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and the Archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington. From 1959 until 1964, Sister Anita Marie taught children in Kaplan, Louisiana where in,1961, she experienced, and survived without injury, a devastating tornado that completely destroyed the convent where she resided with three other sisters. In 1990, Sister Anita Marie was assigned as a co-manager of Saint Therese Plaza, a resident apartment (HUD) for senior citizens where she ministered until her retirement in 2005. A gentle, quiet presence, Sister Anita Marie reflected, by her manner, the words of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, “Our dear Savior was never in extremes.”
SISTER M. CHRISTINA STOECKLEIN, SC
SISTER M. CHRISTINA STOECKLEIN, SC, age 84, died at Caritas Christi, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Greensburg, on Thursday, July 9, 2009. A Pittsburgh native, Sister M. Christina entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1943, from Saint Walburga Parish, Pittsburgh, PA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Christian and Julia (Thomas) Stoecklein, nine brothers, Norbert, Raymond, Aloysius, George, Bernard, Carl, Richard, Irvin, Wilbert (Bill) and four sisters, Julia and Marie Stoecklein, Mrs. Margaret Howard and Mrs. Theresa (John) Tkach. Sister M. Christina is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hill University and taught children of the primary grades in schools of the Greensburg and Pittsburgh dioceses. A member of a well known Pittsburgh bakery family, and a born entrepreneur, Sister M. Christina, managed, for more than 30 years, the baked goods booth of the Sisters of Charity annual summer festival. After her retirement from the classroom, Sister M. Christina became a craftswoman par excellence as she turned her efforts to creating items for every holiday and community event, while teaching others to develop their artistic selves. She, along with helpers, designed and made patriotic pins after the September 11, 2001, tragedy. Any donations received for the symbols were channeled to the American Red Cross Disaster Fund. She earned first and second place awards at both Westmoreland and Allegheny County Fairs. But the greatest satisfaction Sister M. Christina experienced was preparing children to receive the sacraments. “I loved preparing the little ones for their First Communion and Reconciliation and I have wonderful memories of the delight children felt when they learned to read.” Of her own life, as a Sister of Charity, Sister M. Christina said, “These have been the happiest years of my life. I thank God every day for calling me to religious life.”
SISTER M. FRANCINA SKERGAN, SC
SISTER M. FRANCINA SKERGAN, SC, age 89, died at Caritas Christi, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Greensburg, on Thursday, August 6, 2009. A native of Scottdale, PA, Sister M. Francina entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1937, from Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Sutersville, PA. Preceded in death by parents, Charles J. and Catherine (Boning) Skergan, two brothers: Edward J. and Richard C., she is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Margaret (Gerald) LaRue and Patricia R. Springer, and nieces and nephews. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Duquesne University and a master’s degree in history and theology from Duquesne University. Sister M. Francina taught students of the elementary and secondary levels in the Greensburg and Pittsburgh dioceses. From 1957 until 1959, Sister M. Francina taught history during the summer sessions at Seton Hill University. She participated in a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill ministry to teach the Sisters of the Holy Family of New Orleans during the summers of the 1950s. From 1968 until 1971, Sister M. Francina ministered in a flexible new apostolate of adult education known as the Adult Institute in the Diocese of Greensburg under the direction of the late Bishop William G. Connare. The goal of this program was, primarily, to update adults to the movement of the Church after Vatican Council II and involved neither elementary nor secondary school classes. From 1971 until 1980, Sister M. Francina served as director of religious education for the Diocese of Greensburg and from 1980 until 1989, she was the religious education coordinator at Saint John the Baptist De La Salle parish in Delmont. From 1989, Sister M. Francina was appointed to the leadership position at Sacred Heart Convent, Shadyside and, while there, worked part time as the parish director for religious education, positions she held until 1996, when she was assigned as coordinator for the Sisters of Charity temporary residence at Saint Paul Manor, Pittsburgh. Sister M. Francina spoke about her life as a Sister of Charity. “I am grateful to God for a full life of service to my family, my community and the Church while having the opportunity to also enrich my personal spiritual life.” Sister M. Francina retired to Caritas Christi in 1999. Dedicated and hardworking, she believed, along with Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, “Every step we take all day long is a step of nature or a step of grace.”
SISTER KEVIN MARY MANNION, SC
SISTER KEVIN MARY MANNION, SC, age 77, died at Caritas Christi, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Greensburg, on August 25, 2009. A Pittsburgh native, Sister Kevin Mary entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1951, from Saint Mary Magdalene Parish, Homestead, PA. Preceded in death by her parents, John J. and Catherine (O’Connor) Mannion, two brothers, John J. Jr. and Francis E. Mannion, she is survived by a brother, Lawrence A., two sisters, Sister M. Philomena, SC, and Sister Mary Vincent, LSP, and nieces and nephews. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hill University and a master’s degree in education, administration from Duquesne University. Sister Kevin Mary was a teacher in schools of the Altoona-Johnstown, Greensburg and Pittsburgh dioceses. She was principal at Saint Stephen School, Hazelwood from 1974 until 1990, and was then named a co-director of Saint Theresa Plaza, Munhall, a senior citizen high rise, (HUD) a position she kept until her retirement in 2005. Of her life as a Sister of Charity, Sister Kevin Mary stated, “Each day has been one of growth. Growth in happiness and the appreciation of God’s love through all the phases of my ministry with children, youth and senior citizens.”
SISTER WILLIAM ANN DAILEY, SC
SISTER WILLIAM ANN DAILEY, SC, age 93, who died at Caritas Christi, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Greensburg, on August 26, 2009. Born in Hastings, PA Sister William Ann entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill on September 8, 1933, from Saint James Parish, Wilkinsburg. Preceded in death by her parents, Daniel J. and Ruth (Frey) Dailey, two brothers Daniel J., Charles and a sister, Mrs. Leone (Patsy) Benevantano, she is survived by a sister, Mrs. Joan (J.) Lauer and nieces and nephews. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Duquesne University and taught students of the junior high school level in schools of the Altoona-Johnstown, Greensburg, Phoenix and Pittsburgh dioceses. She ministered as vice-principal at Saint Philip School, Crafton and as a library assistant and remedial reading instructor at Sacred Heart School in Shadyside. After retiring from the classroom, Sister William Ann assisted in the nursing program at Assumption Hall, the former infirmary of the Sisters of Charity and continued this ministry on a volunteer basis until 1998. A cheery, helpful presence, Sister William Ann found comfort in the words of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, “Dear simplicity, so loved by our Divine Master, I embrace you and prefer you a thousand times to the wisdom of the world.”
SISTER MARY FLORENCE SCOTT, SC
SISTER MARY FLORENCE SCOTT, SC, age 92, who died at Caritas Christi, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Greensburg, on September 30, 2009. A native of Johnstown, PA, Sister Mary Florence entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1939, from Saint John Gualbert Parish, Johnstown. She was preceded in death by parents, William F. and Sophia (Greenwood) Scott, nine brothers: Joseph R., William F. Jr., Patrick, Cyril H., Edward M., John R., Raymond, Robert A., James P., four sisters: Mrs. Winifred (W.) Campbell, Mary Cecilia, Helen, and Martha E. Scott She is survived by a brother, Bernard Scott, Johnstown, and two sisters: Mrs. Margaret (Lawrence) Mundok, Johnstown and Mrs. Doris (George) Petrick, Jr., Lakeland, Florida and nieces and nephews. Sister Mary Florence earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Duquesne University and was a teacher and an administrator in schools of the Altoona-Johnstown, Greensburg, and Pittsburgh dioceses. She was principal, 1962-1968, at the former Saint Thomas Aquinas School in California, PA and principal, 1974-1982, at McNelis Catholic, Altoona. In 1982, Sister Mary Florence was presented an award in recognition of her outstanding service at McNelis Catholic School. After she retired from the classroom, Sister Mary Florence joined the staff at Assumption Hall, the former infirmary, retirement home for the sisters. There she was appointed the director of Elizabeth Ann Hall as a caretaker for sisters with memory impairment. In 1996, Sister Mary Florence was named director of the Elizabeth Seton Guild, the ministry by which the congregation responds to requests for prayers. Dedicated and hardworking, the essence of generosity and kindness, Sister Mary Florence once reflected on her life as a Sister of Charity, "I always wanted to become a religious sister, to do the will of God in all things and in all places. I chose the Sisters of Charity because of their simplicity and concern for others. It is in the simplicity of our words and actions that the spirit of God resides."
SISTER MARY NOREEN LACEY, SC
SISTER MARY NOREEN LACEY, SC, age 82, died at Seton Provincial House, Gwangju, South Korea, on November 12, 2009. A Munhall native, Sister Mary Noreen entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1944, from Saint Mary Magdalene Parish. She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael V. and Nora (McDonnell) Lacey, two brothers, Reverend James F., CSSR, and Joseph A.; three sisters, Mrs. Betty Jean (E. William) Kegg, Mrs Helen (Leo) Law, Mrs. Mary Rita (Martin) Dunlap; and three cousins: Sisters Luigi Walsh, SC, Marie Marce Hannon, SC and Teresa Mary Lacey, SC. She is survived by one brother: Reverend Thomas W. CSSR, three sisters: Mrs. Margaret (Donald) Gothe, Mrs. Alice (William J.) Jones, Mrs. Kathleen (John) Motta and nieces and nephews. Sister Mary Noreen earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hill University and a diploma,1966, in the Korean language at Yansei University, South Korea. She taught in schools of the Phoenix, Greensburg and Pittsburgh dioceses prior to her ministry in South Korea. In 1960, she was one of four Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill who volunteered to begin a mission in the Archdiocese of Gwangju, South Korea. Until her retirement from the classroom in 2002, Sister Mary Noreen taught English and religion to Korean students. Dedicated, patient and serene, Sister Mary Noreen’s personality and presence reflected the words of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, “Our dear Savior was never in extremes.”All funeral arrangements will be Gwangju, South Korea. Archbishop He-Joong Kim will be the celebrant for the funeral Mass on Saturday, November 14. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity, 144 DePaul Center Road, Greensburg, PA 15601. For more information visit the website, www.scsh.org.