Sister Maria Josephine D'Angelo

Sister Maria Josephine D'Angelo, RSM, a member of the Mid-Atlantic Community of the Sisters of Mercy, died at Mercy Center, Dallas, on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012.

Sister was born March 19, 1924, in Philadelphia, and was the daughter of Joseph and Lucy Caruso D'Angelo.

Sister graduated from the South Philadelphia High School for girls and obtained her bachelor's degree from the Moore Institute of Art, Philadelphia, and a master's degree in fine art from Notre Dame. While her background was in traditional painting, she also acquired and appreciation for abstract art while working toward her master's degree at Notre Dame.

Sister entered the Sisters of Mercy on Sept. 8, 1948, and took her vows March 12, 1951.

Sister was assigned to Mount Aloysius, where she witnessed many changes from the days of the all-women Mount Aloysius Junior College, through the move to co-educational status in 1968, and then through the transition to the four-year institution known today as Mount Aloysius College.

Her greatest cultural contribution to the Cresson region was the Mount Aloysius Art Alliance, which she founded in 1989. In 2001, Sister Maria Josephine was recognized by the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art with its Service to the Arts Award for her impact on the development of art in the region. In 2006, Sister became an active member of the prayer ministry at Mercy Center, where she continued support to her students through prayer.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Sister Maria Regina D'Angelo, RSM.

She is survived by her sister, Patricia Schneider, Deerfield Beach, Fla.; brothers, Joseph, Bradenton, Fla.; and John, Warrington; and the Sisters of Mercy.

Transferal to Mercy Center, Dallas, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday with a prayer service followed by visiting hours until 4 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Mercy Center Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Friday followed by transferal to Kennedy Funeral Home, Cresson, with visiting hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.

Interment will take place Saturday at the Sisters of Mercy Cemetery on the campus of Mount Aloysius College, Cresson, at the convenience of the family and the Sisters of Mercy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Sister Maria Josephine D'Angelo may be made to the General Scholarship Fund at Mount Aloysius College, 7373 Admiral Peary Highway, Cresson, PA 16630, or Mercy Center, P.O. Box 370, Dallas, PA 18612.