Aston, PA — Sister Margaret Mary Byrne, OSF (formerly Sister Fulgentia), died in Our Lady of Angels Convent, Aston, on June 4. She was eighty-seven years of age and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for sixty years. Sister Margaret Mary was born in Philadelphia and baptized in St. Elizabeth Parish. Later the family moved to Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, where Sister Margaret Mary attended St. Andrew School. Prior to her entrance into the congregation in 1943, she graduated from West Catholic High School, attended Immaculata College, and worked at General Electric doing personnel study and placement. Sister Margaret Mary earned a B.S. in Education from Mt. St. Mary University in Emmitsburg and an M.S. in Audio-Visual Communication from Towson State University. Additional studies included courses and grants in science, French, math, and science from the University of Oklahoma, the University of Nevada, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Franklin College.
Sister Margaret Mary ministered primarily in education in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Oklahoma. On the elementary level she taught grades one through eight. Her work in secondary education included teaching science, French, and English and serving as audio-visual director and moderator of activities. In her leisure time, she enjoyed reading, sewing, and crocheting.
Sister Margaret Mary began her ministry in education during her year of candidacy, serving as a substitute teacher at St. Paul School in Wilmington, Delaware (1943-1944) and later taught there from 1951-1955. Additional ministry in the Diocese of Wilmington included teaching at St. Ann School (1959-1961).
Sister Margaret Mary ministered for thirty-seven years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. She taught at St. Katharine School (1945-1946); St. Peter Claver School (1946-1949); St. Joseph School, Fullerton (1949-1951); St. Anthony School (1955-1959); St. Stephen High School, Bradshaw (1966-1967); Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School (1967-1968); The Catholic High School of Baltimore (1968-1979); and Towson Catholic High School (1979-1985). From 1993-2001 she resided at St. Joseph Medical Center Convent and did volunteer work.
Sister Margaret Mary ministered for fourteen years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. From 1965-1966 she taught science at West Catholic High School, her alma mater. From 1985-1993 and from 2001 until the time of her death, she lived at Our Lady of Angels Convent, the congregation’s motherhouse in Aston, where she did volunteer work in several of the congregational offices.
Sister Margaret Mary ministered for three years in the Diocese of Allentown, teaching at Sacred Heart School from 1962-1965. She also taught at St. Joseph Academy in Chickasha, Oklahoma (1961-1962).
All services will be held in Our Lady of Angels Chapel, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, on Thursday, June 8. A Christian Wake Service and viewing will be held at 4 P. M, following reception of the body. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 6:30 P.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Margaret Mary is survived by her sister, Therese Leavitt of West Chester; her brother, Andrew Byrne of Mt. Holly, New Jersey; 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.
