Posted March 26, 2014

Sister Margaret Farrell, who was a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 63 years, died Feb. 17 at Holy Child Center, Rosemont. She was 84.

The daughter of Edward and Dorothy (Walters) Farrell, Sister Margaret (Peggy) was born and raised in New York City. After graduating from St. Walburga’s Academy in 1948, Sister Peggy entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus where she professed her final vows in 1956. She became well known by her religious name Mother Mary Felicitas.

Sister Peggy’s teaching ministry spanned 40 years on the east and west coasts of the United States.  From 1951-1962, she taught in Philadelphia at St. Edward School, Assumption B.V.M. School and St. Maria Goretti High School. She also taught at Holy Child Academy in Sharon Hill, and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill.

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In New York City, she taught at Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Elizabeth schools. In 1962 Sister Peggy became the assistant principal of Cornelia Connelly School in Anaheim, Calif. In 1969 she became assistant principal of Connelly School of the Holy Child, Potomac, Md.

After three years there, she rejoined the faculty of St. Edward’s School in Philadelphia. In 1977 she returned to New York City to teach in Catholic schools.

In 1994 Sister Peggy led the Open Book Reading Program in which senior citizens read to children waiting for treatment in the Westchester County Medical Clinic. Later that year she began work in her congregation’s health office in Drexel Hill. Seven years later she retired from active ministry, but continued to live in community at St. Eugene Convent in Primos until 2013, when she moved to Holy Child Center.

Sister Peggy earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Fordham University in 1959, and a Master of Arts degree in teaching and mathematics from Georgetown University in 1972.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 21 in the New Sharon Chapel, Rosemont.