Sister Mary Perasa, CSJ

In the mysterious plan of our provident God, we gather rather unexpectedly to celebrate the faith-filled and meaningful life of Sister Mary Perasa, formerly Sister Mary Norbert, a Sister of St. Joseph for 66 joyous and fruitful years.

Mary and her brother, Daniel attended St. Agatha’s School and their early faith formation and rootedness in the Gospel of Jesus had Brooklyn origins nurtured by the values and love of their parents Anthony and Mary Alice. Their family home was a beacon of welcome, stability, and hospitality to all, especially the children from Angel Guardian who were fostered by the Perasa’s ~ and there were many who became Mary’s support system over the years.

After graduating from St. Brendan’s High School, Mary entered the community and while studying in Brentwood College she began her selfless and extraordinary ministry as a teacher of young children, specializing in 1st Graders. For 51 years Mary’s skill and expertise created a loving, vibrant learning environment in six different parish schools where the love of God echoed in joyful and meaningful life experiences.
Even in her official retirement years, Mary assisted as a classroom Aide in OLPH’s Kindergarten class three times a week!

Earning a renowned place among the Greats in Who’s Who in America’s Teachers stated the obvious ~ Mary was a teacher par excellence!
Mary’s largesse and goodness knew no bounds ~ her after-school and weekend ministry extended to active service on RCIA Teams in three parishes, shared ministry as a Eucharistic Minister in Long Island College Hospital, preparation of special needs children for the sacraments, helping out at St. Joseph High School and service as a participating member of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Council of Religious.
Talk about a “worker bee” ~ Mary was the Queen Bee! ~ Also known as the “Nun on the Run”. Mary walked at least 10,000 steps a day to connect to her people ~ always with a smile, a warm hug and total attention to the need at hand ~ a true sister of the neighborhood.
In 2014 Mary was invited into a ministry that changed her life perspective and deepened her realization of God’s active love at work in the persons at the margins of our world ~ the destitute, the homeless, and the hungry.She wholeheartedly assumed leadership in St. John the Baptist Bread and Life Food Pantry with an outreach to the homebound, especially senior citizens living alone.

Back at her home base, St. Agatha Convent, Mary’s “free time” and energy focused on building a loving, vibrant community from sharing her expertise and skill in acclimating sisters from Asia to life in the Big City, to proofreading term papers and presentation talks to relishing with openness and excitement a whole new array of culinary delights.
Our hearts go out to Sister Amelia who is here in spirit and to Nancy and all of the sisters who shared life with Mary ~ you were all very special to her. Mary’s humble and generous presence lit up a room in a life-changing manner ~ her genuine gift of self to her Circle of Life knew no bounds.

Mary loved to travel ~ and travel she did ~ but, even then she always had the names, ages, and sizes of children from either Hour Children, our Refugee Program or the Parish who were in need of an Easter outfit or birthday gift ~ and, as a great bargain hunter who scoured stores for hours, she always delivered outfits from head to toe, much to the delight of all! And, just for the record, Mary was the only person I knew who in her travels to Assisi, Italy delighted in eating at the local McDonald’s ~ not once but as a matter of habit.

Two months ago Mary stood here in Sacred Heart Chapel at our Memorial Service to prayerfully and gratefully hold a candle for her dear friend, Ginny Down. Today, we her community of sisters, family, and friends welcome her home ablaze with respect and awe at the totality of the outpouring of her beautiful, holy life in the service of our community and the dear neighbor.

We’re happy that Mary’s dear friend, Sister Mary Sheppard will share a personal reflection.

Sister Mary’s life was filled with multiple, hidden, generous deeds. Thanks to stories told by some whose lives she touched, we can appreciate her even more ~ finding that what we saw was far less than what people received.

During just a few hours I spent in Mary’s hospice room, I was touched by those who came and why they came. Several traveled from Brooklyn to Rockville Centre as respectful colleagues of Mary; another had been a principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and spoke of her volunteerism; a gentleman who had been taught in 2nd grade by Mary needed to see her; and one of our sisters sat in gratitude for the visits and care Mary gave to her mother’s home-bound friend.

We heard earlier about Sister Mary’s primary ministries in varied places. But what about her extracurricular kindnesses? Her spending hours making flowers and felt turkey centerpieces for the homebound and delivering them; spending a month several summers in Brazil, bringing cartons of donated school supplies for the Pre-K our Sister Ginny was establishing; numerous, regular train trips to NYC to work at St. Francis soup kitchen and frequent pilgrimages to St. Francis Shrine in Assisi for spiritual nourishment and inspiration. (Another inspiration in her life was her Mom ~ who fostered a number of children from Brooklyn’s Mercy, Angel Guardian home.)

But don’t get the wrong idea. While her heart was from heaven, Mary was very down to earth. She was a straight arrow. She was not one for fuss or fanfare. She had a fine sense of humor. Nothing was a problem.

Once Mary was diagnosed she shared with me that she was grateful for the life she had and was at peace. (How could a woman so giving have regrets?)

Here was a woman who let God use her as an instrument of God’s peace and joy.

Mary Sheppard, CSJ

Sister Mary Perasa, CSJ, the former Sister M. Norbert, died on December 26,2024 in the 66th year of her religious life.