Death of Former LCWR President Mary Dacey, SSJ

With sadness, we share with you the news that Mary Dacey, SSJ died on Thursday, January 16 at St Joseph Villa in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. She was 77 years old.

Mary served as vice-president and a member of the leadership team of her congregation, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, from 2004 – 2014. In 2006, the LCWR members elected her to the three-year presidency of the conference. During that time, she served on the committee to plan and create the traveling exhibit, Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, where she played an instrumental role in fundraising as well as appearing in the exhibit’s introductory video.

In 2020, LCWR created the Discerning the Emerging Future Initiative and Mary served on that initiative’s committee from its inception to the time of her death, participating in weekly meetings in the early years and contributing from her wealth of experience, particularly from her work as a facilitator for many religious institutes across the country. Her keen insights and wise counsel significantly helped to shape the anticipatory manner in which LCWR has worked to ready its members for future challenges and opportunities. Mary also generously served the Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph for several years.

Mary spent more than 35 years in the ministry of education as a teacher, administrator, and board member for many institutes on the secondary and higher education levels. Her ministries have included service as principal and president of Mount St. Joseph Academy for 16 years and as the director of schools for The Healey Education Foundation.

Mary’s funeral will be held in her congregation’s motherhouse on January 24 at 10:30 AM.

Let us hold in prayer all of Mary’s family, congregation members, friends, and all those whose lives were impacted by her as we gratefully remember her spirit and presence, mourn her passing, and celebrate her eternal life.

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Leadership Conference of Women Religious
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