Sister Mary Martina Lavin, RSM, age 90, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died peacefully on January 11, 2026, at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, PA.
Born on November 12, 1935, Martina was the beloved daughter of Martin Joseph Lavin and Hortense Sheehan Lavin, one of eight children. Surrounded by her four sisters (Mary, Rita, Veronica, Patricia) and her three brothers (Martin, Andrew, and Joseph), Martina grew up experiencing the give-and-take of family life and enjoying the benefits of her close-knit South Philly neighborhood. She quickly became the heart of her community, caring for, protecting, and defending her siblings and neighbors. Martina loved her Irish heritage and was proud of her education at St. Monica School, where she attended through high school and completed a commercial degree.
Responding to the call to religious life, Martina entered the Convent of Mercy on September 8, 1962, and at her reception received the name Sister Mary Martina. She chose “My Jesus Mercy” as her lifelong motto, becoming a compassionate, tender, merciful heart of Jesus for all God’s people. As the senior member of her band of sisters, she is fondly remembered for her sense of humor, kindness, and easy-going nature.
Martina earned degrees from Gwynedd-Mercy College and Seton Hall University in preparation for her educational ministry. She dedicated the first 30 years of her ministry as a Sister of Mercy to teaching students in grades 2 through 8 at local parish- and mercy-sponsored schools, where her compassion and love for children were treasured gifts among students, staff, and families.
Martina possessed a mother’s heart, filled with love and compassion for those who suffered any sorrow or loss. Following Mary, the Mother of God, as her model, Martina cradled the orphan under her protective wing, encircling the lonely, the elderly, the forgotten, and the frightened in the arms of her maternal love. Her ministry of pastoral care to the elderly and infirm at St. Dorothy Parish and McAuley Convent brought the mercy of Jesus into the lives of many, who remember her care with deep gratitude and love.
Fondly known as “Aunt Ron,” Martina’s legacy of devotion to her family lives on in the loving hearts of her many nieces and nephews, who will share memories and humorous stories of their dear, dear Aunt with generations yet to come.
We rejoice with you, dear Martina, in your grand reunion with God and all your loved ones. May you rest in peace and joy for time and eternity!
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