Aston, PA—Sister Mary Philomena McDonagh, OSF, (formerly Sister John Philomena) 77, died in Assisi House on November 25. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 58 years. Sister Mary Philomena was born in Carramore, County Galway, Ireland. She entered the congregation in 1947 and professed her first vows in 1951. Her sister, Sister Kathleen McDonagh, is also a member of the congregation. Sister Mary Philomena ministered primarily in caring for the elderly.

Sister Mary Philomena ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 32 years. She took care of the retired sisters at St. Mary Convent in Bryn Mawr from 1971-1972. She ministered at Assisi House in Aston from 1980-1997 and continued to volunteer there from 1997-2009. In April 2009 she moved to Assisi House where she served in prayer ministry until her death. She also worked at St. Mary Hospital in Philadelphia from 1978-1980.

Sister Mary Philomena ministered for 21 years in the Diocese of Trenton. From 1958-1961 she worked at St. Michael Home in Hopewell. She worked with the elderly at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville on three different occasions: 1953-1958, 1961-1971, 1975-1978.

Sister Mary Philomena also ministered in the Diocese of Allentown where she served in local house ministry at Holy Ghost Convent in Bethlehem (1951-1952) and St. Bartholomew Convent in Brockton (1952-1953). In the Diocese of Harrisburg, she ministered as a teacher aide at St. Mary School in York (1972-1975).All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, on Monday, November 30. 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 Mary Philomena is survived by her brother, Michael McDonagh (Australia); three sisters, Sister Kathleen McDonagh (Aston, Pennsylvania), Nora Higgins (Ireland), and Rita Egelton (England); her nieces and nephews; and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.