Sister Mary Jean Tague, D.C., died on September 25, 2024, at St. Louise House in Albany, New York. Sister was born on January 3, 1937 in Syracuse, New York, to Robert John Tague and Emma Elizabeth Kerwin Tague. She was the first of two daughters. Sister met the Daughters of Charity during her 12 years attending the Cathedral Academy in Syracuse. Following graduation, she entered the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1955.
Sister’s years of service took her across the world. After two years of teaching in Greensboro, North Carolina (1956-1958), she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy (1958-1962) at St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York. She served at Providence Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan and then for four years at St. Mary’s Hospital, Troy, New York before being sent to Bolivia to set up a pharmacy in our newly built hospital in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 1967. Her wonderful organizational skills proved a great asset in this work.
While serving in a small village, she realized the need for nursing skills. She returned to the States and earned her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Rochester in New York (1973). She returned to Bolivia for 11 more years (1973-1984). Her work took her to the shores of Lake Titicaca in the mountains of Bolivia.
Upon her return to the United States in 1984 she had a variety of nursing assignments in Brooklyn, South Boston, and Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sister received her Master of Science in Nursing in 1991 from Long Island University in Brooklyn. Then, in 1995, Sister’s superiors asked her to go to Angola, Africa to help establish a clinic to serve people who were just recovering from civil war.
Sister returned to the States in 1998 and served as nurse and local community superior in Stamford, Connecticut for nine years. From 2007-2013, she developed and was Coordinator of the Parish Nurse Program in Bridgeport. This program continues to this day.
Her final mission post was in Brownsville, Texas, at Proyecto Juan Diego, where she combined nursing skills and being moderator of a parish Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
In 2020 she came to St. Louise House in Albany to serve in the ministry of prayer, which she did until her death.
In 2014, Sister was honored to receive the Catholic Health Association Life Achievement Award in recognition of her life of service. Along with her professional skills, Sister Mary Jean had a magnetic personality that embraced all people. She was blessed with an extraordinary sense of humor and was a gifted photographer.
A Wake service was held for Sister Mary Jean on September 30 and her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on October 1. Interment took place St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, New York.
Sister is survived by her many beloved cousins, her Sisters in Community and many friends. Donations may be made in her name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108.