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Sister Mary Rose McGeady, D.C. MENANDS Daughter of Charity Rose McGeady passed away on Thursday, September 13, 2012 surrounded by her loving Sisters, family, Covenant House executives and St. Louise House staff.

Sister Mary Rose McGeady, daughter of Catherine and Joseph McGeady, was born in Hazelton, Pa. She spent her youthful years there and in Washington, D.C. with her brother and sister. She met the Daughters of Charity as a high school student in the Immaculate Conception Academy, Washington, D.C. and entered the community in 1946.

Sister [Mary Rose] loved children. Her many years as a Daughter of Charity were spent in the service of children as a child-care worker, supervisor, and administrator. Her first experience was in the Home for Destitute Catholic Children in Boston. Astor Home for Children in Rhinebeck was a pilot project for emotionally troubled children. While there, Sister earned a master’s degree in psychology from Fordham University. Sister continued to work for children in Nazareth Center, Boston and Kennedy Child Study Center in New York City.

Sister [Mary Rose] was a founding member of the Daughters of Charity activities in St. John’s Parish, Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn. There she worked for Catholic Charities and financially supported the other Sisters in the parish.

Sister Mary Rose served on the provincial council of the Northeast Province of the Daughters of Charity from 1973 to 1980. Then she assumed the duties of the provincial superior for six years. After that, she returned to Catholic Charities in Brooklyn.

After interviews, she was invited to be the executive director of Covenant House in New York City. Here her many talents benefited children. Her life experience with troubled youngsters and her speaking and storytelling ability were used for the "throwaway children of New York City" and then other national and international sites. Her talents reaped rewards at fund raising affairs throughout the country. After she spoke, who could resist giving?

Through Sister Mary Rose’s several paperbacks about individual children and young adults at Covenant House and why and how these children became lost, Sister educated thousands to the reality of what happened to these children and again attracted little and big donors.

She [retired] to St. Louise House in 2003 where her mind was as active as ever but her body experienced the diminishments of aging. She helped to establish St. Paul’s, a shelter for women and children, and served on the board. Her honorary degrees and other awards are too numerous to include.

Sister [Mary Rose] is survived by her sister, Catherine Pendleton, and her husband, Frank Pendleton, of San Jose, Calif.; her sister-in-law, Ruth McGeady, and her eight nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 17, 2012 in the De Paul House Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in St Agnes Cemetery, Menands. A wake service remembering Sister will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 16, 2012. Calling hours will begin from 4 p.m. when the body returns and is blessed in the DePaul House Chapel, 96 Menand Road, Albany, NY 12204.

Donations may be made to the Daughters of Charity , 4330 Olive St., St. Louis, MO. or Covenant House, Sr. Mary Rose Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 731, Times Square Station, NY 10108.

Online condolences may be offered at danielkeenanfuneralhome.com

Note from BB:  I did not have the privilege of knowing Sister Mary Rose personally but I felt I did.  My neighbor and friend has been a close personal friend of hers most of his life.  He spoke of her constantly, of the work she did, and more importantly the difference she made in the lives of so many people, young and old.  I would listen to his side of phone conversations he had with her, the last being a call to wish her a happy 84th birthday (he borrowed my phone).  She will undoubtedly be missed by many, especially the children she saved, my neighbor included. Rest in Peace dear Lady of God.