Sister Margaret Ann O’Donnell, RSM, 1930- 2024

Sister Margaret Ann O’Donnell, RSM, formerly known as Sister Mary Perpetua, died Jan. 25.

Margaret was one of 12 children born to Alvin and Anna (Breidenstein) O’Donnell. The family resided in the Seneca-Babcock area of South Buffalo. She attended St. Monica School and went on to Mount Mercy Academy. After being taught by the Sisters of Mercy, Margaret felt called by God to join their order.

She entered Mount Mercy Convent on Sept. 7, 1947.

For more than 70 years, Sister Margaret has given of her time and talent to challenge young people to develop their gifts. She taught at Holy Family School, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Stephen, All Saints in Buffalo and St. Peter & Paul School in Jamestown. During this time Sister Margaret received a bachelor’s degree in Education from Niagara University and a master’s in English from Canisius College in Buffalo.

In 1957, Bishop Patrick Cronin, Missionary Society of St. Columban, invited the Buffalo Mercy Community to send four Sisters to the Philippines to assist with education and health care for the people on the Island of Mindanao. Sister Margaret felt called to join the other sisters in their missionary work in the Philippines.

In May of 1960, Sister Margaret arrived in Iligan, Mindanao and became principal and faculty member of Mercy High School, Tubod, IIigan City. She stated that, “teaching students in Buffalo and Mindanao demonstrated that both groups wanted to be in school and wanted to learn.”

During her 30 plus years as a teacher, regional superior, directress of formation and chaplain at Makati Medical Center, Sister Margaret lived the words that are inscribed in her ring, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Arriving back in the United States, Sister Margaret worked with Aids Family Services as the pastoral care minister. This ministry continued through Catholic Health Home Care. With her computer, Sister Margaret stayed in touch with the Sisters in the Philippines.