Posted September 21, 2016

Sister Mary Dolores Malecka, S.S.J., formerly Sister Alma Maria, died Sept. 9 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown. She was 85 and in the 68th year of her religious life.

Born in Philadelphia March 1931, she was the daughter of Joseph Malecka and Elizabeth Rowan Malecka. She attended St. Philip Grade School and John W. Hallahan High School in Philadelphia. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on Sept. 14, 1948 and professed final vows on Aug. 7, 1956.

Sister Mary Dolores graduated from Chestnut Hill College with an A.B. and St. Louis University with an M.A. in mathematics.

Early in her teaching ministry, Sister Mary Dolores taught at Holy Comforter School in Washington; however, she served primarily in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

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Sister Dolores taught at St. Anne, St. Genevieve and St. Ambrose Schools and Archbishop Prendergast (Drexel Hill), Bishop Kenrick (Norristown) and Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield) High Schools.

At Chestnut Hill College, she served in administration positions as faculty staff / chair of the Mathematics Department and associate professor of mathematics.

She became a volunteer in 2010 at SugarLoaf Carriage House and remained there until she was missioned to prayer and presence at St. Joseph Villa in September 2015.

Sister Mary Dolores was the sister of John, James and the late Joseph Malecka and Elizabeth Livewell. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and members of her congregation, the Sisters of St. Joseph.

The funeral Mass, attended by religious, relatives and friends, was celebrated Sept. 13 at St. Joseph Villa.