We commend to your charity the soul of our beloved

Sr. Mary Margaret Paliotte

Who departed this life on February 15, 2024 I

n the seventy-fifth year of her religious life

Age: 91 years, 3 months, 25 days

Sister Mary Margaret Paliotte was born Mary Louise Paliotte, in the small town of Monaca, Pennsylvania, on October 22, 1932, along with her sister, Margaret. The twins were the fifth and sixth of seven children born to Nathan Paliotte, an Italian immigrant, and Margaret Chleba. Eight days later, the girls were baptized at St. John the Baptist Parish by Fr. Emilio Farri. Sixteen years later, in September, 1949, Fr. Ferrari would recommend the young Mary Louise for entrance into the Sisters of Divine Providence.

Sister Mary Margaret, known fondly to her Sisters in community as M&M, later wrote, “I believe it was the faith of my parents that I entered religious life. I came from a loving family and leaving home was difficult. I knew that religious life would have joys and sorrows like any other life. As a young person, I wanted the challenge of following Jesus by helping others.”

For the next fifty-five years, Sister Mary Margaret dedicated herself to elementary school education, teaching the lower grades in the Pittsburgh area and later in Detroit, and Warren, Ohio. She once shared that both she and her sister struggled with school academics and this experience helped her to encourage her own students who needed extra help. She often told them, “I don’t want to hear you say that you can’t do it because there’s always a way and we’re going to find it.” One student’s mother credited Sr. Mary Margaret’s words of encouragement with her daughter’s success in life.

In her retirement, Sr. Mary Margaret returned to Pittsburgh and volunteered at Providence Connections Family Support Center, where she lovingly rocked and comforted the babies in daycare. She is known to have said "Those babies will never know how much joy and happiness they gave me. I often tell Jesus to have a rocking chair in heaven. Then I can rock all the babies in heaven."

Sr. Carol Kampert, a longtime friend of Sr. Mary Margaret, shared a home and teaching responsibilities at St. Isaac Jogues elementary school in Detroit. These days, Sr. Carol looks back on the time with fondness, describing Mary Margaret as a gentle, caring, prayerful, and welcoming presence. She credits Sr. Mary Margaret with “teaching me how to teach” and when asked if she enjoyed living with Sr. Mary Margaret, Sr. Carol breaks into an easy smile saying, “Oh yes! I just remember liking her so much!” She recalls their comfortable evening routine of going for walks after supper, returning home to sit in the living room together to grade papers, and ending the evening with a little television.

In her final years, Sr. Mary Margaret dedicated herself to a ministry of prayer and presence at St. Joseph’s Center where she also enjoyed reading, doing word search puzzles, and listening to music. The nurses who cared for her described her as a quiet, cooperative, and appreciative person with aide Joann Benacquisto saying “There’s a love about her. There’s a warmth that comes from her.”

Sr. Mary Margaret once said, “When I enter heaven, I’m hoping to hear God say, ‘This is my beloved daughter in whom I am well-pleased. Well done, M&M!” There is no doubt that is exactly what God is saying to her now, and we echo those sentiments. Well done, M&M!

Birthday: October 22 Sr.

Judith Connor