Aston, PA – Sister Margaret Joyce, OSF (formerly Sister Margaret St. Francis), died in Assisi House on November 15. She was eighty-three years of age and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for fifty-nine years. Sister Margaret was born in Philadelphia where she was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish. She graduated from Hallahan High School and the Secretarial Exchange Business School. A gifted violinist, Sister Margaret was awarded a scholarship to study at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music. Prior to entering the Sisters of St. Francis in1944, she worked for the Sisters of Notre Dame (Moylan) as a typist and music teacher. She later earned a B.A. in English from Villanova University and an M.A. in Music from the Catholic University of America. During her years in active ministry, Sister Margaret served in both elementary and secondary education, in parish ministry, and as a healthcare volunteer.

Sister Margaret began her ministry in education at the Catholic High School of Baltimore (1946-1947, 1971-1973). During her eleven years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, she also taught at St. Paul School (1947-1949) and at the Shrine of the Little Flower School (1949-1955).

Sister Margaret ministered for thirty-four years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She taught at St. Benedict School (1960-1969), St. Elizabeth School (1969-1970), and at Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield (1975-1977). From 1973-1975 she taught music at Neumann College and from 1979-1984 she served as Director of Liturgy at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston. After her retirement she lived at both St. Agnes Medical Center Convent (1993-1994) and at St. Francis Convent (1994-1998). During those years she did volunteer work at the hospital and helped to collect food and clothing to provide for the needs of some of the patients. In 1998 she moved to Assisi House where she served in prayer ministry until her death.

Sister Margaret also ministered for six years in New Jersey, serving both the Diocese of Trenton and the Diocese of Metuchen. Her ministry there began in St. Augustine Parish in Kendall Park where she served as Director of Liturgy and Music (1986-1989). From 1989-1992 she served in parish ministry at Our Lady of Sorrows in Mercerville and Holy Eucharist in Tabernacle and as a volunteer at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.

Additional ministry experiences in education include Nativity School, Washington, DC (1955-1958); St. Mary School, Catasauqua, Pennsylvania (1958-1960); York Catholic High School, York Pennsylvania (1977-1979); and Blessed Sacrament School, Walpole, Massachusetts (1984-1986).

All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, on November 20. 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 Margaret is survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to Franciscan Ministries Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.