Sister Marie Elizabeth Mahony, CSJ

We celebrate of the life of Marie Elizabeth Mahony, a Sister of St. Joseph for 75 years. Our Lady of Snows has been Marie’s home for nearly 50 years. Until very recently, Marie used all of her energy and determination to attend daily mass in this church she held so dear.

Marie was born in Brooklyn and as a student in Visitation Academy and then Fontbonne Hall Academy, she developed her gift of music, encouraged by her parents, Mary and David. Entering the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1942 she pursued her love of music and achieved degrees in music education from Marywood College and Queens College.

Along with her passion for music, Marie loved to see children discover their talents and she worked tirelessly to help them develop their skills.  A teacher of music in Our Lady of Victory, St. Clare’s and St. Joseph’s in Garden City, Marie was methodical, dedicated and built caring and compassionate relationships with her students and their families. She not only saw their potential but knew that God was present in each person she encountered. Marie cherished the individual lessons she gave to the children. She also served our diocese as a Music Supervisor for the schools for over fourteen years.

We will praise God this morning as we sing the hymns in this liturgy. But I believe that tomorrow evening, Christmas Eve, in this very church, the hymns of praise will resound from the voices of the parishioners of Our Lady of Snows, especially the children. And I have no doubt that Sister Marie Elizabeth Mahony will be joining her voice to continue her lifelong response to God’s love in her life. We are grateful for her life in our congregation and we are confident that she now enjoys eternal peace.

Sister Marie Elizabeth Mahony, CSJ died on December 17, 2016 in the 75th year of her religious life