Mclaughlin, Sister Mary Zita D.C.

MENANDS- Sister Mary Zita McLaughlin, D. C. 96, died Monday, January 27, 2014 at St. Louise House. Born in Skaneateles, N.Y., on October 30, 1917, Sister Mary Zita was one of six children born to Edward Neal and Mary Ellen (McLaughlin) McLaughlin. She joined the Community of Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in October of 1935. She celebrated 78 years as a Daughter of Charity in 2013.

Sister Mary Zita graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in Philosophy in 1947; she completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Early in her ministry, Sister Mary Zita served at St. Vincent’s Maternity and Infant Home in Philadelphia, Penn., St. Vincent’s Home in Detroit, Mich., St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Home in Farmington Hills, Mich., St. Ann’s Infant Home in Washington, D.C., and Marillac Hall in Farmington Hills. In 1958, she was missioned to Astor Home in Rhinebeck, N.Y.; she then served at Catholic Charities in New York, N.Y. In 1968, Sister Mary Zita began her 17 years as a Foreign Missionary in South America first serving in Santa Cruz, Trinidad and then in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Upon returning to the United States in 1985, Sister Mary Zita served at St. John’s Parish Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. (1985 to 1986) in Parish Outreach ; Good Samaritan Hospital in Pottsville, Penn., (1986 to 1991) as a Pastoral Care Assistant; and Sisters Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. (1991 to 2004) as a Receptionist. In 2004 Sister joined the Ministry of Prayer at St. Louise House in Albany and served there until the time of her death.

Sister Mary Zita is survived by her nephews, John and his wife Donna of Parish, N.Y. and Howard and his wife Mary O’Hara of Syracuse, N.Y.; nieces, Mary Grace Blair and Kathleen Zuckerman both of Florida, Mary Ellen Boyer of Ohio and Louise Galeo and her husband Joseph of Michigan; and her Sisters in Community.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 31, 2014 in the DePaul House Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. A Wake Service remembering Sister will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2014. Calling hours will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday when the body returns and is blessed in the DePaul House Chapel, 96 Menand Road. Albany.

Donations in Sister’s memory may be made to the Daughters of Charity, Province of St. Louise, 4330 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO. 63108-2622.