Sr. Margaret McAnoy, IHM, 89, died Wednesday, December 14, at the IHM Senior Living Community, Monroe.
Margaret Anne McAnoy was born March 19, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, to parents Thomas and Anne (Conlon) McAnoy. Her parents had emigrated from the United Kingdom, respectively. Like her siblings, Margaret attended St. Gregory Grade School and graduated from St. Gregory High School in Detroit. That summer, following her older sister Josephine, she entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe and received the religious name Thomas Edward.
In 1969, Sister Margaret moved to Georgia and took a position teaching at Rosalie House in Norcross, just outside of Atlanta. While planning to be in Atlanta for only ten years, this began 50 years of ministry in the southern state. She served as faculty and principal of St. Pius X High School and principal and administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes School. She then went into spiritual direction, administration and chaplaincy for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Portsbridge Hospice, and St. Joseph Hospital.
As a young sister, she taught elementary students in Michigan at St. John, Jackson, St. Michael, and St. John, Monroe, and Blessed Sacrament, Detroit. She was also missioned to St. Felicitas, Chicago, Illinois. She often remarked that she enjoyed teaching students of all ages. Her studies were completed at Marygrove College, earning both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Arts in Education.
Her most recent work was Vicar of Religious for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. This liaison position supports all religious ministering within the archdiocese, representing about thirty communities. Prior to her appointment as Vicar, she was the spiritual director of the Cursillo Movement and Office for ten years. So engaged with the people of Atlanta, Sister Margaret was named “Woman of the Year” by the Archdiocesan publication, “The Georgia Bulletin,” in 1981. When her health began declining, she returned to Motherhouse in 2020.
Sister Margaret is survived by nieces Mary, Suzanne, Jeanne, and Theresa and preceded in death by sisters Mary McAnoy, Jane M. Zukowski, JoAnn McAnoy, IHM, brother Reverend Thomas McAnoy; niece Kathleen and nephew John.
Services will be held at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Welcoming of the body begins at 9 a.m. with a Remembering and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Livestreaming begins at 10 a.m. and may be viewed until Jan.10, 2023. Green burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162-7909.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
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