Obituary for Sr. Mary Sullivan RSM
Brighton: Sister Mary Sullivan (M. Petrus) was called home by her God on March 21st, 2023 during her 73rd year as a Sister of Mercy. Sister Mary, a 1949 graduate of Our Lady of Mercy HS, entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1950. She held a BA in English, followed by a MA and a PHD in English from the University of Notre Dame. She also received an MTH in Systemic Theology from the University of London, England.
Her teaching ministries began in Diocesan Catholic Schools followed by a teaching position at Our Lady of Mercy HS and Catherine McAuley College. She then became the President of Catherine McAuley College. This assignment was followed by joining the teaching staff at Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY, followed by 33 years at Rochester Institute of Technology. She became Dean of the College of Liberal Studies, followed by becoming Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. She was a Professor of Language and Literature for several years at RIT. After nearly 40 years of full-time teaching, Mary became Professor Emerita of Literature and Dean Emerita of the College of Liberal Arts at RIT.
Sister Mary was an accomplished author of numerous works chronicling the life and mission of Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. She edited several books and many articles on Catherine’s compassionate service to the poor, the sick and the uneducated.
Many scholarly articles, including a rhetorical study of the autobiography of Teresa of Avila were published by her. She served as Chairperson of the Task Force on the Pastoral Letter on Women in the Church for the DOR. For more than 30 years, Sister Mary shared the Mercy story through seminars and retreats all over the world. She also served on the Mercy International Archives Commission and the Mercy International Research Commission.
She is survived by sister-in-law’s Diane Sullivan, Judy Sullivan, Penny Sullivan, nephews, nieces, and the Sisters of Mercy. Donations in her memory may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 1437 Blossom Road, Rochester, NY 14610
Zoom Vigil Service: Friday, March 31 at 4:00 PM. Join Zoom Meeting ?https://zoom.us/j/8656940863?pwd=MkU4dDRUeGJzZXdhMmJweWdkdERrZz09
Meeting ID: 865 694 0863 ?Passcode: 888502
Friends are welcome Saturday, April 1st from 9:45-10:30am at the Mercy Center Chapel where a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30am. Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Link to the livestream for the funeral Mass: https://youtube.com/live/Igm_cFYOxyM
Her teaching ministries began in Diocesan Catholic Schools followed by a teaching position at Our Lady of Mercy HS and Catherine McAuley College. She then became the President of Catherine McAuley College. This assignment was followed by joining the teaching staff at Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY, followed by 33 years at Rochester Institute of Technology. She became Dean of the College of Liberal Studies, followed by becoming Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. She was a Professor of Language and Literature for several years at RIT. After nearly 40 years of full-time teaching, Mary became Professor Emerita of Literature and Dean Emerita of the College of Liberal Arts at RIT.
Sister Mary was an accomplished author of numerous works chronicling the life and mission of Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. She edited several books and many articles on Catherine’s compassionate service to the poor, the sick and the uneducated.
Many scholarly articles, including a rhetorical study of the autobiography of Teresa of Avila were published by her. She served as Chairperson of the Task Force on the Pastoral Letter on Women in the Church for the DOR. For more than 30 years, Sister Mary shared the Mercy story through seminars and retreats all over the world. She also served on the Mercy International Archives Commission and the Mercy International Research Commission.
She is survived by sister-in-law’s Diane Sullivan, Judy Sullivan, Penny Sullivan, nephews, nieces, and the Sisters of Mercy. Donations in her memory may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 1437 Blossom Road, Rochester, NY 14610
Zoom Vigil Service: Friday, March 31 at 4:00 PM. Join Zoom Meeting ?https://zoom.us/j/8656940863?pwd=MkU4dDRUeGJzZXdhMmJweWdkdERrZz09
Meeting ID: 865 694 0863 ?Passcode: 888502
Friends are welcome Saturday, April 1st from 9:45-10:30am at the Mercy Center Chapel where a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30am. Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Link to the livestream for the funeral Mass: https://youtube.com/live/Igm_cFYOxyM