Mercy Sister Margo Kavanaugh, who resided in St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake, for 25 years and was former longtime principal of the parish school, died Dec. 9 in McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung.

Funeral services are planned for Dec. 13 in St. Catharine Church, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake. A wake will be held from 10 a.m. to noon with a Mass of Christian Burial following at 12:30 p.m.

Sister Margo was a graduate of St. Joan of Arc School, Fairview (Camden), and Camden Catholic High School. She earned an undergraduate degree from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood; a master’s degree from Notre Dame University, South Bend., Ind., and completed her doctoral studies in Catholic school leadership at the University of San Francisco.

Faithful to her personal motto, “I will go where there is no path and I will leave a trail,” Sister Margo embraced Catholic education, serving as a teacher, diocesan supervisor of education for the Sisters of Mercy and principal in various schools. In addition to her two decades in St. Catharine School, she was  principal for 10 years in St. Matthias School, Somerset, and a teacher in Catholic schools in Metuchen, Atlantic City and Lambertville.

“I always requested teaching in parish schools,” Sister Margo was quoted as saying in a 2014 article in The Monitor when she retired after her total 58 years in education.

“Being in a parish does something for me. If we don’t give service to a parish, I don’t understand how kids can grow up knowing what is to believe and to belong,” she said in the article. “Parents who come in to enroll their children in a Catholic school want us to teach their children who they are and that they belong to God.”

Along with her principal duties, Sister Margo was also an advocate for social justice, working closely with the Mission of Mercy Organization that was spearheaded by friend and colleague Mercy Sister Carole MacKenthun, who currently serves as a religion teacher in St. Catharine School. Sister Margo was responsible for initiating the sponsorship of St. Kizito’s School in Uganda, providing the students with quality education and health care services.

Sister Margo was predeceased by her parents, Mary and Lawrence Kavanaugh, and sister, Annamary Kavanaugh. She is survived by the Sisters of Mercy community.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to McAuley Health Care Center, 1633 Highway 22, West, Watchung, N.J. 07069.