Sister Mary Downey was born in Kearny, New Jersey to James and Mary Downey and entered eternal life on January 30, 2018. She will be missed by her community and by her sister-in-law, Stella Downey, her nieces and nephews and many friends. Her brothers James, John and Robert predeceased her.
Before entering the Benedictine Sisters on September 8, 1961, Sister Mary was a public school teacher. On June 15, 1963 she made her First Monastic Profession.
Sister Mary earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Jersey City State College and a Master’s Degree in Education from Seton Hall University. Sister taught at Bender Memorial Academy in Elizabeth and at Our Lady of the Lake in Sparta, NJ where she later served as the principal. She was also principal at Immaculate Conception School, Hackensack, St. Genevieve School in Elizabeth, St. Joseph School of Religion, New Paltz, NY and founded Benedictine Preschool which she directed 1996-2009.
At the monastery she was a member of the monastic council and formation team at various times. She was the first editor of T he Listening Post, a Eucharistic Minister and sang in the Schola. Sister Mary was proud of her Scottish heritage and enjoyed singing, gardening, and art. Her artwork was featured on the covers of countless program booklets. Sister’s sketch of the Eucharistic Chapel lamp adorns the covers of all the Liturgy of the Hours books which are used daily – touching reminders of how she generously shared her God-given talents.