Sister Mary Philomena McDonagh, ministered to children and maturing adults

July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.


A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 30 in Assisi House, Aston, Pa., for Franciscan Sister Mary Philomena McDonagh, who died Nov. 25 at age 77.

The former Sister John Philomena was born in Carramore, County Galway, Ireland. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in 1947 and professed her first vows in 1951.

Sister Mary Philomena’s primary ministry was in caring for the elderly. She served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 32 years, the Diocese of Trenton for 21 years and in the Diocese of Allentown, Pa.

In the Diocese of Trenton, she worked in St. Michael Orphanage, Hopewell, from 1958 to 1961, and in Morris Hall, Lawrenceville, from 1953 to 1958, 1961 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1978.

Sister Mary Philomena is survived by one brother, Michael McDonagh of Australia; three sisters, Franciscan Sister Kathleen McDonagh of Aston, Pa., Nora Higgins of Ireland and Rita Egelton of England; nieces, nephews and her Franciscan family.

Burial was in Our Lady of the Angels Cemetery, Aston.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, Pa. 19014.

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A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 30 in Assisi House, Aston, Pa., for Franciscan Sister Mary Philomena McDonagh, who died Nov. 25 at age 77.

The former Sister John Philomena was born in Carramore, County Galway, Ireland. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in 1947 and professed her first vows in 1951.

Sister Mary Philomena’s primary ministry was in caring for the elderly. She served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 32 years, the Diocese of Trenton for 21 years and in the Diocese of Allentown, Pa.

In the Diocese of Trenton, she worked in St. Michael Orphanage, Hopewell, from 1958 to 1961, and in Morris Hall, Lawrenceville, from 1953 to 1958, 1961 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1978.

Sister Mary Philomena is survived by one brother, Michael McDonagh of Australia; three sisters, Franciscan Sister Kathleen McDonagh of Aston, Pa., Nora Higgins of Ireland and Rita Egelton of England; nieces, nephews and her Franciscan family.

Burial was in Our Lady of the Angels Cemetery, Aston.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, Pa. 19014.

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