Sister Marie O’Malley (formerly Sister Shaun Marie) died in Camilla Hall on February 27, 2025, in the 75th year of her religious life. Marie O’Malley was born on August 8, 1931. Marie’s parents John and Agnes (O’Grady) O’Malley raised their family of five in Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Philadelphia.
Marie attended Saint Edmond (1936-1942) and Most Blessed Sacrament elementary (1942-1945) schools. Marie attended high school at West Philadelphia Catholic Girls’ High (1945-1949). While in Community, Sister earned an A.B. degree in Spanish from Immaculata, and an M.A. in Religious Education from Notre Dame Institute.
Marie entered the Community on September 8, 1949, and on April 10, 1950 she received her habit and her religious name Sister Shaun Marie. When the Sisters had the opportunity to do so, Sister Shaun Marie reverted to the use of her baptismal name Sister Marie O’Malley. Sister professed First Vows on April 15, 1952.
Sister instructed both elementary grade students and high school students from April 1952 through June 1996 – 44 years of devoting time and talent to the students, their families, and the Sisters with whom she lived. Sister served at St. David Willow Grove, St. Dorothy Drexel Hill, St. Matthew Philadelphia, Norfolk Catholic High School, St. John of the Cross Roslyn, Holy Name High School Reading, Archbishop Prendergast High School and in Immaculate Heart Convent in Fountain Springs, Sister served as both the superior of the convent and teacher in Cardinal Brennan High School. During her teaching apostolate, from April 1952 through June 1996, Sister Marie served at Villa Maria in Santiago Chile two separate times: January 1957 through January 1963 and August 1968 through January 1972.
Sister Marie’s ministry of joyful service did not end when Sister moved out of the classroom. From August 1996 through August 2003, Sister served children at the Day Care Center at St. John the Baptist in Manayunk. From August 2003 through June 2012 Sister Marie lit up Little Flower High School where she ministered in Student Services Office. The students and faculty were always greeted with a warm smile and a very accommodating manner.
In August 2012 Sister went to Camilla Hall to continue her ministry of service as an integral member of the Apostolate of Prayer and Service Community. As in everything Sister did from her entrance day until her death on February 27 it was done with the solid foundation of prayer and the desire to serve, and more than a degree of merriment that comes from a full and generous heart.
In addition to her IHM Community and her local Community at Camilla Hall, Sister Marie is survived by her sisters, Patricia Herman and Agnes Halas (John), and her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Her parents John O’Malley and Agnes (O’Grady) O’Malley, her sister Helene Campbell (Patrick), her brother Jack (Mary), and her brother-in-law Ray Herman predecease Sister Marie.
Reverend Francis E. Chambers, OSA celebrated Sister Marie’s Funeral Mass on Saturday March 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355