Sister Ann Marshall, RSM, 95

Sister Ann Marshall, RSM, 95

WORCESTER – Sister Ann Marshall, a Religious Sister of Mercy for 72 years, passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 29, at Notre Dame Long Term Care Center. She was born in Worcester on April 11, 1926, the second child of John and Katherine (Redican) Marshall and attended St. Paul Elementary School and St. Peter High School, both in Worcester. She received a bachelor’s degree from Our Lady of the Elms College, a master’s degree in Latin from Boston College, a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Emmanuel College and a certificate in advanced graduate study in theology from Assumption College.
On Jan. 1, 1949, Sister Ann entered the Sisters of Mercy at Nazareth Home for Boys in Leicester, and was given the name Sister Mary Paracleta, by which she was known until 1969, when she resumed her baptismal name of Sister Ann Marie Marshall. She began an extensive teaching career in 1951, starting with grade 7 at Blessed Sacrament School and then at St. Paul School. After obtaining her master's degree from Boston College, Sister Ann taught for two years at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Santa Ana, California. In 1960 she returned to Worcester, teaching again at both St. Paul and Blessed Sacrament schools before being assigned to St. Peter-Marian High School.
In 1967 Sister Ann began a new ministry in pastoral and catechesis work in Sicuani, Peru. Living in primitive conditions, she served in that ministry for 10 years. Upon her return to Worcester, Sister Ann was assigned to St. Joseph Home for three years before taking up a new position as campus minister at St. Peter-Marian.
From 1982 until recently, Sister Ann was involved in the Spanish Apostolate at St. Peter Parish, providing pastoral care and catechesis to the Hispanic parishioners, and visiting the sick and elderly in the parish. In addition to her parish work, Sister Ann served as chaplain/pastoral counselor for the Visiting Nurses Hospice Program.
In 2008 Sister Ann was the recipient of the Passionist Witness Award, given by the Passionist Community at their Retreat House in Shrewsbury, where she was honored for her 25 years in the Hispanic Ministry at St. Peter Parish. Earlier, she was the recipient of the John Cardinal Wright Award for her work with the Hispanic community.
Sister Ann leaves her nieces and nephews, James and Rosemary Marshall, Cathy and Thomas Simokonis, Karen and David Shortsleeve, Sheila Marshall, Daniel and Shereen Marshall, Maura and William McCarthy, her religious community, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews, and great grand nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, John and Katherine, and by her siblings, James Marshall and his wife Elizabeth, Bishop John A. Marshall, and Sister Eileen Marshall, RSM. Sister Ann provided loving care for each of them during their final illnesses and at the time of their deaths.
On Wednesday, Nov. 3, Sister Ann's funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Church, 931 Main St., Worcester. A calling hour in the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. will precede the Mass. She will be laid to rest following the Mass at St. Joseph Cemetery in Leicester.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sister Ann may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 505 Mill St., Apartment 155, Worcester, MA 01602.