Sister Marie McDonnell, formerly known as Sister Mary Suzanne, died in Camilla Hall on July 18, 2026 in the eighty-eighth year of her life. Sister served 66 years as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. While her three brothers and four sisters have all predeceased her, she is survived by her many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.
Born Marie C. McDonnell on October 13, 1938, to her parents Edward T. and Helen (Kelleher) McDonnell, she was raised in their large and loving family in Most Blessed Sacrament parish in West Philadelphia. Marie attended the parish elementary school, graduating from West Catholic Girls High School in 1956.
Entering the Immaculate Heart Sisters on February 11, 1960, Marie received the religious name Sister Mary Suzanne and celebrated reception of the habit on August 16, 1960 and she pronounced her first vows on August 16, 1962. Sister completed her A.B. in English from Immaculata in 1971.
Sister Marie began her ministry initially in the primary grades at St. Clement School, and after teaching there for four years, moved to SS. Simon and Jude in Westtown where she taught sixth grade for almost four years. Assigned to St. Catharine parish, Mt. Penn in Reading, she began with fifth grade but moved up to eighth grade for three years. Sister was then transferred to St. Joseph, Downingtown in 1973 where she taught eighth grade for the next eight years. Sister Marie’s next move involved a distance as she traveled to Sunnyvale, CA to teach eighth grade at St. Cyprian School for six years. Returning to the East Coast in 1987, Sister continued in grade 8 at Immaculate Conception in Somerville, NJ. In 1990, Sister moved to teach grade seven at St. Barnabas for six years, also serving as superior for the next six years.
In 1996 Sister Marie’s ministry changed when she moved to St. Francis de Sales School to serve in the IHM Literacy/GED Center, a position she held for over 23 years. In 2001, while Sister continued to teach in the IHM Center, she also served as the religious superior at St. Francis deSales Convent. In 2007, her residence changed to the Immaculate Heart Residence at West Catholic, after which she returned to St. Francis de Sales Convent for five more years. In 2019, Sister entered Camilla Hall as a member of the Prayer and Presence ministry.
Sister Marie McDonnell’s Funeral Liturgy was celebrated at Camilla Hall on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Reverend Francis Chambers, OSA, was the celebrant.
In Sister Marie McDonnell’s memory, a donation may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA