Posted October 9, 2025

Sister Marita Rose Donnelly died in Camilla Hall on October 1, 2025, not too long before her 94th birthday. Sister Marita Rose died in the 76th year of her religious life.

Margaret Donnelly was born on November 6, 1931. Her parents Joseph and Marie Donnelly raised their family of four in St. William Parish in Philadelphia. Margaret attended St. William Elementary School (1937-1945) and Little Flower High School (1945-1949). Later, Margaret went on to earn a B.A. degree from Immaculata College.

Margaret entered the Community on September 8, 1949; she received her holy habit and her religious name Sister Marita Rose on April 10, 1950, and pronounced her First Vows on April 13, 1952. Shortly after her profession of vows, Sister Marita Rose began her fruitful journey of service.

Beginning in April 1952, Sister Marita Rose taught children in grades 3 through 8. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Sister served at St. Clement, St. Agatha, St. Joachim, St. Martin of Tours, St. Barnabas, St. Cecilia, St. Joan of Arc, and St. Thomas. Outside of the Diocese, Sister taught children at SS. Simon & Jude in Bethlehem, St. Edward in Shamokin, and St. Ann in Lansford.

In 1972 through 1984, Sister Marita Rose served in leadership as local superior and principal in several places. In 1972 through 1975, Sister served as superior and teacher of seventh and eighth grade students at St. Agnes in Sellersville. At St. John the Baptist in Manayunk (1975-1976), Sister was the principal of the school and local superior. At St. Ann Convent in Lansford (1976-1978), Sister taught fifth grade children and served as both superior and principal. In 1978 through 1981, Sister went to St. Joseph Convent in Warrington where she served as superior and principal. Sister went to Incarnation Convent in Trenton, New Jersey in 1981 through 1984. This was Sister’s last assignment where she was superior and principal.

Sister went to St. Thomas Convent in Croydon in 1984 and taught seventh grade students through the school year ending in 1991. This was Sister’s last teaching assignment, but by no means, the end of her teaching.

Sister Marita Rose transitioned into the Ministry of Pastoral Care, ministering to St. William Parish as a Pastoral Caregiver until 1999.

In August 1999, Sister Marita Rose went to St. Aloysius Convent/Academy in Bryn Mawr. For the next 21 years, Sister Marita Rose served her Sisters in the Convent and her colleagues at the Academy. Sister left St. Aloysius in August 2020, entering Camilla Hall to be a member of the Apostolate of Prayer.

Rest in peace, dear Sister, your good deeds precede you into paradise.

In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Marita Rose is survived by her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sister was predeceased by her parents Joseph Patrick Donnelly and Marie Josephine (McHugh) Donnelly; her brother, Joseph Patrick Donnelly (Theresa), her sisters Dolores Zinn (Frank), and Mary E. Gruber (Joseph).

Reverend Francis Chambers, OSA celebrated Sister Marita Rose Donnelly’s Funeral Mass on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.

In Sister Marita Rose’s memory, a memorial donation may be sent to:

Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355