Sr. Mary Michael (Rita) Ronan died April 29, 2015 in the Sisters’ Infirmary at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, WV. She was born June 14, 1928, daughter of William Henry and Gertrude MORRISSEY Ronan in Waterbury, Connecticut. She was the oldest of five children: She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Barbara Ronan Pohl. She is survived by her sister Ann Ronan McCandless, two half-bothers, William Henry Ronan, Jr. and Edmund Terence Ronan and multiple nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a step-sister Sandra Ronan Ryan and a step-brother Roy Ronan. Sister Mary Michael entered the Pallottine Missionary Sisters on September 8, 1947. She spent most of her religious life teaching in some capacity. She taught and was Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Fatima; taught at St. Joseph’s High School; and provided religious education for students at St. Peter Claver Church, all in Huntington WV. She spent many of her summers in the coal fields of southern WV teaching Vacation School of Religion to public school students and provided adult education for members of the parishes. She also did private tutoring for students of various ages. In addition, Sister also taught in Pittsburgh, PA, Laurel, MD, Spring Lake MI, and in St. Louis, MO. She served as Secretary and Translator in the Pallottine Sisters Generalate in Rome, Italy for almost seven years. To say that Sr. Mary Michael was well educated is an understatement. She attended Catholic University, Marshall University, West Virginia University, Laval University (Quebec, Canada), George Washington University, University of the District of Columbia and Providence College (Rhode Island). She received her B. Ed., English at Duquesne University, a Masters’ Degree in French Literature at University of Notre Dame, and a Masters’ in Theology at St. Charles University (Pennsylvania). Shortly before her death Sister Mary Michael wrote the following as part of reminiscences of her life as a Pallottine Missionary Sister It seemed appropriate to include an excerpt here which describes her so well. “My heart swells with gratitude to God, our Blessed Lady, Queen of Apostles. all the angels and saints for this beautiful life I have lived, aspiring to follow St. Vincent Pallotti in some small way. Some have been tumultuous times, but I have tried to create within myself an oasis of peace as the ground of my being. My life has been blessed with much love and many, many friends, but my greatest Loves have always been the Lord Christ and the Roman Catholic Church, as Shakespeare says, ‘warts and all.” Visitation will be on May 1, 2015 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 P.M outside the Main Chapel of St. Mary’s Medical Center. A Vigil Service will begin at 7 P.M. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday May 2, 2015, in the Main Chapel of the Medical Center as well. Burial will be at Spring Hill Cemetery following the Funeral Mass. Reger Funeral Home is in charge of all of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Pallottine Missionary Sisters’ Retirement Fund or to a charity of your choice.
Friday, May 1, 2015
2:00 - 7:00 pm (Eastern time)
St. Mary's Medical Center Main Chapel
Friday, May 1, 2015
7:00 - 7:30 pm (Eastern time)
St. Mary's Medical Center Main Chapel
Saturday, May 2, 2015
11:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)
St. Mary's Medical Center Main Chapel
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