Age 91
For thirty-three years, Sister Mary Ellen was a beloved fixture at Immaculate Heart of Mary school in Towson, Maryland, where she is fondly remembered by the hundreds of children who learned their lessons and were blessed in her loving care.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., she knew in first grade that she would be a sister, and never deviated from the call. She first encountered the Sisters of Mercy at Holy Trinity High School, also in Washington, D.C, and decided that she would enter the Mercy community in Baltimore, Maryland, after graduating.
Although she thought she did not want to teach, she studied elementary education at Mount Saint Agnes College (now part of Loyola University) in Baltimore, Maryland, earning a bachelor’s degree and later a master’s degree. She began teaching at St. Peter’s Elementary School in Baltimore and surprisingly fell in love with her work. Mary Ellen also taught elementary education in Columbus, Savannah, and Atlanta, Georgia, Rockville, Maryland, and Hopewell, Virginia.
In 1969, she arrived at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Towson, Maryland, where she found her true home. For thirty-three years Sister Mary Ellen was a treasured teacher with a dramatic style that captivated children. Nicknamed “Sister Third Grade” by the staff and alumni of the school because she taught that class so many years, the present third grade class attended her funeral as a tribute.
After retiring from full time ministry, Sister Mary Ellen continued working as a volunteer with the children at Immaculate Heart of Mary School and also spent many volunteer hours at The Villa in Baltimore, Maryland, providing comfort and company to the elderly sisters. She remained a faithful volunteer welcomed for her kindness, sense of humor, and eager participation in fun and games.