A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Margaret Dougherty, D.C., was celebrated Dec. 20, 2012, at the DePaul House Chapel in Albany, N.Y. Burial followed at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, N.Y.
Sister Margaret died Dec. 17, 2012, at 74 years of age at the Daughters of Charity senior care residence, St. Louise House, in Albany. In June 2012, she celebrated 50 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Hazelton, Penn., on Nov. 24, 1938, Sister Margaret was the daughter of Robert Leo and Mary Frances Dougherty. She was one of seven children. Sister was named Margaret Mary Dougherty at birth. She spent the first 22 years of her life in those coal regions.
After graduating from Nativity High School and St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, Md., Sister Margaret taught for a few years in a public high school in her hometown before entering the Daughters of Charity in 1962. After her formation as a Daughter of Charity, she taught for nine years in Seton High School in Baltimore, Md. (1963 – 1969); at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington, Del., where she was part of the school’s founding (1969 – 1971); and at Seton High School in Endicott, N.Y. (1971 – 1972). From 1973 to 1987, Sister Margaret had diverse ministries in parishes in Canastota, N.Y.; Minersville, Penn.; and Tremont, Penn. Sister Margaret completed the requirements to be a supervisor of clinical pastoral care education and introduced that program into Sisters Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. Many of her students received certificates in pastoral care.
Her services were sought in Hungary to prepare students for a different approach to hospital care. She volunteered for the mission “Mission ad Gentes.” Through it, she was sent to the Ethiopian Province of the Daughters of Charity from 2006 – 2008. Next, Sister Margaret served at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn., where she ministered in pastoral care. A long illness forced Sister Margaret to spend a year at St. Vincent’s Medical Center and at Yale Medical Center. In 2012, she was missioned to St. Louise House in Albany. Sister Margaret earned both a master’s degree in French and in religious education from The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. A good conversationalist, Sister Margaret was a good listener and enjoyed playing the violin. She also enjoyed baking and cooking.
Sister is predeceased by her parents, Robert and Mary Frances Dougherty, her brother Robert, and her sister Mary Ellen (Millie) Regan and brother-in -law. She is survived by her sisters Ann Marie Dougherty of Rockville, Md.; Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Brennen of Rockville; Jackie and Greg McCarthy of Mattews, N.C.; Ellene and Edward Ebbe of Oakton, Va.; 23 nieces and nephews and 42 grand-nieces and -nephews; and her Sisters in Community.