Sister Marita Donald Toland died on November 5, 2021 in Camilla Hall. Sister was in the 70th year of her religious life.
Mary Patricia Toland was born on January 26, 1934. Her parents Donald Joseph and Mary Elizabeth (Ford) Toland. Patricia and her brother Donald grew up in Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Philadelphia.
Patricia went to Most Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and West Catholic Girls’ High School from which she graduated in 1951. Later, while in the Community, Sister earned degrees in Math from Immaculata College and Villanova University.
Patricia entered the Congregation on February 2, 1952. She received her habit and her religious name, Sister Marita Donald, on August 18, 1952. Sister pronounced her First Vows on August 16, 1954.
Sister began her teaching ministry in the fall of 1954. For the first seven years of her ministry, she taught grade school children: first grade for two years in Sacred Heart School in Philadelphia; St. Dominic School in Philadelphia for three years; and, seventh grade in Our Lady of Fatima School in Cornwells Heights.
In the fall of 1961 through the school year ending in 1990, Sister Marita Donald taught math to high school students. Sister worked with students at Hallahan in Philadelphia; Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg; Villa Maria Academy in Malvern; Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown; and St. Hubert High School in Philadelphia. Sister received a change of assignment in 1990 – Sister remained at St. Hubert High School teaching in the Computer Lab.
In August 1994 through the school year ending 2004, Sister Marita was the Computer Resource Person at St. Charles School in Bensalem. Sister then returned to the Harrisburg Diocese where she served as an Office Assistant at Holy Family Elementary School through June 2006.
In the fall of 2006, Sister went St. Rose of Lima School as an Administrative Assistant until 2014; then to St. Matthew School through the 2018 school year.
Sister went to Camilla Hall in August 2018 where she continued her ministry of prayer and service. Sister served faithfully until her death on November 5, 2021. May her dear soul rest in peace.
Sister Marita’s parents Donald Joseph and Mary Elizabeth (Ford) Toland and her brother Donald predecease Sister. In addition to her IHM Community, Sister is survived by her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Right Reverend Richard Antonucci, O.Praem, along with Reverend Thomas Gallagher, OSFS celebrated Sister’s Funeral Mass on Friday, November 12, 2021 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