Aston, PA – Sister Dorothy Marie Thomas, OSF, (formerly Sister Marie Gonzaga), died in Assisi House on February 9. She was eighty-nine years of age and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for sixty-eight years. Sister Dorothy Marie was born in Washington, DC, where she was a member of Nativity Parish. She entered the congregation in 1937 and professed her first vows in 1939. Sister Dorothy Marie earned a B.S. in Secondary Education from Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She ministered for many years in elementary education. In later years she served in parish ministry and as a hospital chaplain. Her leisure activities included reading, writing poetry. She was an excellent pianist and gave music lessons in many of the schools where she taught.

Sister Dorothy Marie ministered for thirty-three years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. She taught at St. Stephen School, Bradshaw (1941-1942); St. Paul School (1956-1959); St. Peter Claver School (1959-1965); St. Clement School, Rosedale (1967-1969); St. Elizabeth School (1973-1977); and Immaculate Conception School, Towson (1977-1979). From 1979-1980 she ministered at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson. She served as coordinator of healthcare at St. Joseph Parish in Fullerton from 1988-2001. From 2001-2002 she lived at St. Anthony Convent and did volunteer work. She moved to Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania, in 2002 where she served in prayer ministry until her death.

Sister Dorothy Marie ministered in the Diocese of Wilmington for sixteen years. She taught at St. Paul School (1939-1941, 1942-1946) and Corpus Christi School (1965-1967, 1980-1984). From 1984-1988 she served as a chaplain at St. Francis Hospital.

Sister Dorothy Marie’s ten years of ministry in Oklahoma included teaching at St. Elizabeth Academy (1946-1948) and Our Lady of Victory School (1948-1956), both in Purcell.

Additional ministry included teaching at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Bethesda, Maryland (1969-1973).

All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, on Wednesday, February 13. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Dorothy Marie is survived by cousins, nieces and nephews and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to Franciscan Ministries Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.