ObituarySister Maurita Murnaghan

Sister Maurita Murnaghan, SSJ, 89, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania passed away Tuesday Decemer 30, 2008, at the Villa Maria Community Living Center.

She was in her 72nd year of religious life.

Born in Ridgway on December 12, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Cecelia Modenbach Murnaghan. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Leo Parish, Ridgway, on September 8, 1937, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1943.

Sister Maurita earned a BA in Music from Villa Maria College, Erie, in 1952 and a Master's Degree in Music from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Most of Sister’s ministry was in the field of music, as a choir director and a piano teacher. She taught at both St. Andrew and St. Joseph Schools in Erie, St. Francis School in Clearfield, Holy Rosary in Johnsonburg, and then for more than 40 years in St. Bernard Parish in Bradford teaching piano. In addition she served in various other ministries at the Villa Maria Motherhouse and St. Mary’s Home of Erie.

Retiring from active ministry in 1998, Sister has since resided at the Villa Maria Community Living Center in Erie, always enjoying music and related activites as well as Wii bowling.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother Henry. She is survived by members of her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pa., and additionally a sister, Ann Price of Brookhaven, MS and a brother William Murnaghan of Ridgway.

A letter of recommendation from her parish priest that accompanied Sister’s application to become a Sister of St. Joseph included the following: “You are getting my best girl from St. Leo’s parish. She will be all that you can expect --our loss is your gain. She is especially talented in music and has been junior organist for five years; St. Leo’s Church will miss her too. In character, in spirituality and in application to work, I can find no defect.” Such has been the experience of her sisters!

Friends may call at the Villa Maria Community Living Center, 5031 West Ridge Rd. on Friday, January 2, 2009, from 3 to 7 p.m., when a prayer service will be held. Further calling on Saturday from 11 a.m. until a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. in the Living Center’s Chapel. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Community Support Fund of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 5031 West Ridge Rd., Erie, PA 16506-1249.

Arrangements are under the direction of the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St. (Thanks to the funeral home for sending the obituary to me! I appreciate it, and I'm sure many other people do, too.)