Mary entered the Institute of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary

in 1952 at Holy Family Novitiate, Fruit Hill. After pronouncing

her final vows, Mary served in various community works while

studying part time at Rhode Island College.                                            

MISSIONARY LIFE

In 1959, Mary was sent to Goa, stopping off several months in Rome and Karachi, Pakistan, before reaching her final destination. At this time, Goa, India belonged to the FMM province of Pakistan. In Caranzalem, Goa, she served as a Teacher’s Assistant in the Montessori program of O.L. of the Rosary School. She also visited the people in the villages and was sacristan of the village chapel. Later she was sent to Bombay, India, St. Anthony’s Home where she helped with the babies in the crèche. These were all orphan children. She loved the children as well as the whole missionary experience in Pakistan, Goa and Bombay.

Upon her return to the USA, she studied in St. Joseph Hospital in a nursing assistant program after which she worked in her community’s infirmary. Mary was then missioned to St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, New York where she served in Hospitality for the “Gift of Life Program.” The hospital and the Gift of Life Program sponsored children from all over the world who needed heart surgery but could not afford it. Mary always enjoyed working with children and in hospitality. Whatever ministry she was given, she did it with devotion, thoroughness and lot of hard work. Despite some physical limitations, Mary was unsparing of herself in order to attend the needs of others.

In 1994, Mary was sent to Holy Family Community, North Providence, RI where she was responsible for hospitality. In addition to this ministry, Mary used her nursing skills in caring for a sister in her community who was ill.

After recent hospitalizations, Mary was sent to St. Antoine’s Residence, North Smithfield where she died peacfully.