Leontia Spisak, SCN

Leontia Spisak, SCN, 99, born in Searights, Pa., and baptized in New Salem, Pa., died at St. Louise Convent, Pittsburgh on Sunday, October 27, 2013. Sister had been a woman religious for 82 years. 

Sister Leontia received a Bachelor of Education from Duquesne University and a Master of Education in Art from Notre Dame University. She served in elementary and secondary education in Ohio and Pennsylvania for 50 years. Later Sister served in the business office and hospitality at the Vincentian Motherhouse in Pittsburgh. For the past nine years Sister has served in the Apostolate of Prayer.

Survivors include a brother, John S. Spisak, a sister, Margaret Spisak, both of Slippery Rock, Pa., and her religious community.

Mary Carolyn Abell, SCN

Mary Carolyn Abell, SCN, 77, formerly Sister Maria Goretti Abell, a native of Louisville, Ky., died at Nazareth Home on October 20, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 59 years.

Sister Mary Carolyn served in elementary education in Tennessee and Massachusetts for 16 years. In Louisville, Sister served as music therapist at Our Lady of Peace Hospital and as Director of Liturgical Ministers at St. Edward and St. Agnes Parishes. Sister Mary Carolyn also served as a part-time Cantor and Liturgist in other parishes. Sister served in the Apostolate of Prayer at Nazareth Home since 2005.

Survivors include a sister, Margaret A. Johanneman of Louisville, Ky.; two brothers, Nicholas Abell of Shepherdsville, Ky., and Donald Abell of Louisville, Ky., and her religious community.

Carolyn Thomas, SCN

Carolyn Thomas, SCN, 77, a native of Fancy Farm, Ky., died at Nazareth Home, on September 20, 2013.  She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 39 years.
                                                       
Sister Carolyn served in elementary and college education; and in parish ministry in Kentucky, New York, Ohio and Washington.
             
In Louisville, Sister served at St. Ignatius Parish, at Community Catholic School, and at Spalding College, now Spalding University.

Survivors include two brothers: James W. Thomas of Mayfield, Ky., and Julian B. Thomas of Salvisa, Ky., two sisters: Jane Concinia and Bernadette Hughes, both of Scottsdale, Ariz., and her religious community.  

John Edith O'Meara, SCN

 

John Edith O’Meara, SCN, 91, a native of Beverly, Mass., died at Nazareth Home on August 26, 2013.  She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 64 years.

 

Sister John Edith served in elementary education as teacher and librarian in Massachusetts and Maryland for 49 years. In Kentucky, Sister served in the Apostolate of Prayer at Russell Hall and Nazareth Motherhouse from 2000 until she recently became a resident at Nazareth Home.

 

Survivors include a sister, Edith Shirley Brian of Mt. Morris, NY, a brother, Robert O’Meara of Lynn, Massachusetts and her religious community.      

Mary Jo Pfefferman, SCN

Mary Jo Pfefferman, SCN, 96, a native of Alexandria, Ky., died at Nazareth Home on Sunday, July 28, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for almost 60 years.

Sister Mary Jo served in health care, child care and community service in Kentucky and Tennessee during her active ministry. In Louisville, Sister served at St. Thomas-St. Vincent Home in child care and at Nazareth Home as nurse assistant and driver. Sister served in the Apostolate of Prayer during her residency at Nazareth Home from April 2011 until her death.

Survivors include a sister, Florence Holmes of Newport, Ky., several devoted nieces and her religious community.

Alice Marita Kern, SCN

Alice Marita Kern, SCN, 89, a native of Bellevue, Ky., died at Nazareth Home on June 29, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 69 years.

Sister Alice Marita served in elementary education as both teacher and principal in Kentucky and Massachusetts for 37 years. In Louisville, Sister taught at St. Vincent Orphanage, St. Frances of Rome and Blessed Sacrament Schools.  Sister Alice Marita served as principal at St. Brigid School from 1962-65.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, and her religious community.

William Marian Meany, SCN

William Marian Meany, SCN, 91, a native of Louisville, Ky., died at Nazareth Home on Friday, June 7, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 62 years.

Sister William Marian served in health care in Louisville at SS. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital, St. Joseph Infirmary and Nazareth Home for a total of almost forty years.  In her later years Sister served in the Apostolate of Prayer.  Sister became a resident at Nazareth Home in July 2009.

Survivors include a loyal sister-in-law, Wanda Meany; a nephew, William Meany, his wife and their five children, all of Louisville, and her religious community.

Rose Riley, SCN

Rose Riley, SCN, formerly Sister Rose Bernard Riley, 75, a native of Bardstown, Ky., died at Carrico Hall, Nazareth, on May 6, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 57 years.

Sister Rose served in elementary and secondary education as teacher and principal in Kentucky and Indiana for 49 years. In Louisville, Sister served at St. Cecilia and St. Agnes Schools as teacher. She also served at Presentation Academy as teacher and Assistant Principal and as Principal of St. Thomas More School. Sister Rose served as part of the Coordinating Team at St. Louise Convent, Pittsburgh, Pa., from 2009-2013.

Survivors include two sisters, Mary B. Hall of Lexington, Ky., and Marie Flood of Columbia, Tenn.; four brothers, John and Joseph Riley of Bowling Green, Ky.,; Robert Riley of Cox’s Creek, Ky., and Bernard Riley of Nashville, Tenn. Sister is also survived by her religious community.

Irene Agnes Benyak, SCN

Irene Agnes Benyak, SCN, died on April 5, 2013, at St. Louise Convent in Pittsburgh, Pa., surrounded by her sisters in Community.  Sister Irene Agnes entered the Vincentian Sisters of Charity on February 2, 1951, from Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Monessen, Pa., and served as a sister for 62 years. Sister Irene Agnes attended Mt. Mercy College, now Carlow University and graduated from Duquesne University with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Sister Irene ministered for 32 years as a teacher in Elementary Schools in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh, Pa., Greensburg, Pa., and Cape Girardeau, Mo.  She then spent 30 years residing in McKeesport, Pa., where she worked as a pastoral associate and CCD coordinator for the four parishes which were merged into what is now known as Corpus Christi Parish in McKeesport, Pa.

She is survived by her sister, Mary B. Snyder, and brother, John R. Benyak and his wife, Joan, by nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews and many friends.  She is also survived by her religious community.

Caroline Maria Clarke, SCN

Caroline Maria Clarke, SCN, 88, a native of Hollywood, Md., died at Nazareth Home on March 3, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 72 years.

Sister Caroline Maria served in community service, child care, health care and care of the elderly in Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. In Louisville, Sister had been a resident at Nazareth Home since October, 2009.

Survivors include three sisters, Gertrude Norris and Catherine Clarke of Hollywood, Md., and Mary Alwilda Wathen of Leonardtown, Md.; one brother, Edward “Bouncer” Clarke of Hollywood, Md.; and her religious community.

Ann Leo Wilson, SCN

Ann Leo Wilson, SCN, 96, a native of Fancy Farm, Ky., died at Carrico Hall, Nazareth, Ky., on Friday, February 22, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for78 years.

Sister Ann Leo served in community service and health care in Kentucky and Tennessee as Local Superior, Dietary Supervisor and LPN for 60 years.  In Louisville, Sister served at Our Lady of Peace Hospital as Central Kitchen Supervisor from 1950-65; at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Hospital as Dietary Dept. Supervisor from 1965-66 and in the Sister Visitor Program from 1966-67.  Sister Ann Leo served at various facilities as an LPN in health care from 1970-80. She served in community service in SCN facilities in Louisville from 1980-2002.

Survivors include a brother, Paul Wilson of Fancy Farm, Ky., nieces and nephews, and her religious community.

Ruth Marie McGaughran, SCN

Ruth Marie McGaughran, SCN, 102, a  native of Memphis, Tenn.,  died at Carrico Hall, Nazareth, Ky., on February 9, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 82 years.

Sister Ruth Marie served in Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Ohio in elementary, secondary and collegiate education for 40 years.  In Louisville, Sister served at Presentation Academy from 1953 - 1965.  Sister also served as Pastoral Visitor in St. Raphael Parish from 1972-73.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, and her religious community.

Juanita Marie Wiley, SCN

Juanita Marie Wiley, SCN, formerly Sister Agnes Charles Wiley, 81, a native of Newport News, Va., died at Nazareth Home on January 25, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 64 years.

Sister Juanita Marie served in elementary, secondary and adult education in Maryland, Kentucky, Louisiana and Virginia as teacher for 41 years. In Kentucky, Sister served at St. Gabriel School, Fern Creek from 1962-65. In later years, Sister also served in personal family ministry.

Survivors include cousins and her religious community.

Lucille Massey, SCN

Lucille Massey, SCN, formerly Sister Teresa George Massey, 100, a native of Bowling Green, Ky., died at Nazareth Home on January 9 , 2013.  She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 81 years.
                                                       
Sister Lucille served in elementary education as both teacher and supervisor for 39 years.    In Louisville, Sister served as teacher of Grade I at St. Cecilia School; as supervisor of Elementary Schools for the Archdiocese; as instructor in the Education Department of Nazareth College, now Spalding University and as resident at Nazareth Home.

Survivors include a nephew, John Baker, and her religious community.

Jeanne Mary Wathen, SCN

Jeanne Mary Wathen, SCN, 89, a native of Leonardtown, Md., died at Nazareth Home on January 8, 2013. She had been a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 69 years.

Sister Jeanne Mary served in elementary and secondary education as both teacher and principal for 32 years in Alabama, Kentucky and Ohio. In Louisville, Sister taught at St. Pius X, St. Cecilia and St. Lawrence Schools.  Sister later served in parish ministry and community service.

Survivors include a sister and two brothers, Adrienne and Stephen Wathen of Leonardtown, Md.; Paul Wathen of College Park, Md., and her religious community.

M. Beatrice Brunner, SCN

M. Beatrice Brunner, SCN, 86, died at Vincentian Home, Pittsburgh, Pa., on January 5, 2013.  Sister had been a woman religious for 67 years.

Sister Beatrice was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and entered the Vincentian Sisters of Charity from St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Perryville, Pa.  Sister served in both elementary and secondary education for 20 years in the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Greensburg, Pa.; and Mobile and Birmingham, Ala.

In 1967, Sister Beatrice was assigned to Fonthill, Ontario, Canada, where she taught Science at Notre Dame High School for 24 years. After retiring from teaching, she continued her ministry of service as Pastoral Minister to the people of Star of the Sea Parish in St. Catharine, Ontario until 2009. Sister Beatrice then returned to Pittsburgh where she was part of the Sisters’ Prayer Ministry.

She is survived by her sisters Rose and Loretta; her brothers, Raymond and Andrew, and her Sisters in community.