Aston, PA — Sister Margaret McDonald (formerly Sister Margaret Crucifixa), OSF, died in Assisi House on March 29. She was ninety-three years of age and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for seventy-two years. Sister Margaret was born in Philadelphia where she was a member of Corpus Christi Parish. Prior to her entrance into the congregation in 1933, she graduated from St. Elizabeth Commercial School and worked as a clerk-typist for Eshleman & Craig Company. Sister Margaret earned a B.S. in Education from Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in Business Education from Catholic University in Washington, DC. She ministered in education, both on elementary and secondary levels. Her area of expertise was in teaching business subjects. She also moderated the school newspaper and was the cofounder of the Delaware Scholastic Press Association.

Sister Margaret served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for thirty years. She taught for a short time at Hallahan High School (1968-69). Most of her years, however, were spent in congregational ministry. She served as Coordinator of Public Relations for the Sisters of St. Francis from 1970-1982. During that time she also served on several diocesan committees. In 1976 she worked as a resource person in the press room for the 41st International Eucharistic Congress and in 1977 served on the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Communications Committee for the canonization of St. John Neumann. In 1979 she obtained press credentials for both Philadelphia and Washington to cover the visit of Pope John Paul II. From 1990-1995 she worked on the staff of the San Damiano Retreat Center in Aston. In 2001 she moved to Assisi House where she served in prayer ministry until her death.

Sister Margaret also ministered for twenty-two years in the Diocese of Wilmington. She taught at St. Thomas School (1934-1943) and at St. Peter High School in New Castle (1955-1968).

Her twenty years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore included teaching at Immaculate Conception School, Towson (1943-1953); St. Elizabeth Commercial School [Lakewood Avenue] (1953-1955); and Towson Catholic High School (1969-1970). From 1982-1989 she served as Provincial Secretary for the former St. Joseph Province; during that time she lived and worked at St. Anthony Convent [Gardenville].

All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, on Tuesday, April 3. 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 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.