Sister Marita Immaculate Buckley died in Camilla Hall on December 17, 2022, in the 69th year of her religious life.
Mary Jane Buckley was born on April 25, 1935. Sister’s parents Robert and Mary (Connolly) Buckley raised their family of four in Good Shepherd Parish in Philadelphia.
Mary Jane attended Good Shepherd Elementary (1941-1949) and West Catholic High School (1949-1943). Later, while in Community, Sister earned her degree in Elementary Education from Immaculata College.
Mary Jane entered the Community on February 11, 1954; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Marita Immaculate, on August 16, 1954; she professed First Vows on August 15, 1956.
Sister began her teaching ministry in the fall of 1956 and ended classroom teaching in June 1993. During these 37 years, Sister instructed children primarily in first grade. Sister served children, families, and parish communities in Most Blessed Sacrament, Philadelphia; St. Stephen, Port Carbon; St. Ann, Phoenixville; St. James, Savannah; St. Joseph, Hatboro; St. Cecilia, Coatesville; Holy Rosary, Ashland NJ; St. John of the Cross, Roslyn; St. Dominic and St. Irenaeus-Raphael, Philadelphia; St. Philomena, Lansdowne; St. Matthew, Philadelphia; St. Frances Cabrini, Fairless Hills; Holy Innocents, Philadelphia. Sister had a very lovely manner with the children. Sister was a blessing wherever she ministered.
In the fall of 1993, Sister Marita graciously accepted an assignment to serve our Motherhouse Community, Villa Maria House of Studies, as her talents dictated. For 25 years, Sister Marita was the perfect person to head up the hospitality team, preparing and setting up for the myriad of meetings hosted at VMHS. Sister diligently prepared the coffee each evening for the next morning, an especially important task in a large community of Sisters! Sister Marita was very generous, no matter what we asked of her, her immediate response was always positive. Sister Marita was very prayerful, generous, and joyful. When Sister went to Camilla Hall in August 2018, to continue her acts of charity and service, we missed her presence very much. God rest her! We are sure that she is interceding for us from her place of grace.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Marita’s brothers Robert Buckley (Loretta) and Donald Buckley and nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews survive Sister. Her dear parents Robert and Mary, her brother William Buckley (Carol Ann) and sister-in-law Lois predecease Sister Marita.
Reverend John Burger SSC celebrated Sister Marita Immaculate Buckley’s Funeral Mass and Reverend Vincent Burns concelebrated, on Thursday, December 22, 2022, 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