A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary Zita McLaughlin, D.C., was celebrated Jan. 31, 2014, at St. Louise House in Albany. N.Y. Burial followed at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, N.Y.
Sister Mary Zita died Jan. 27, 2014, at 96 years of age at St. Louise House in Albany. In 2013, she celebrated 78 years of vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Skaneateles, N.Y., on Oct. 30, 1917, Sister Mary Zita was one of six children born to Edward and Mary Ellen (McLaughlin) McLaughlin. Sister Mary Zita joined the Community of Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in October of 1935.
Sister Mary Zita graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in philosophy in 1947; in 1949, she completed her master’s degree in social work at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Early in her ministry, Sister Mary Zita served at St. Vincent’s Maternity and Infant Home in Philadelphia, Penn.; St. Vincent’s Home in Detroit, Mich.; St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Home in Farmington Hills, Mich.; St. Ann’s Infant Home in Washington, D.C.; and Marillac Hall in Farmington Hills. In 1958, she was missioned to the Astor Home in Rhinebeck, N.Y. She then served at Catholic Charities in New York, N.Y. In 1968, Sister Mary Zita began her 17 years as a foreign missionary in South America first serving in Santa Cruz, Trinidad; and then in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Upon returning to the United States in 1985, Sister Mary Zita served at St. John’s Parish Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., in parish outreach (1985 to 1986); Good Samaritan Hospital in Pottsville, Penn., as a pastoral care assistant (1986 to 1991); and Sisters Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., as a receptionist (1991 to 2004). In 2004, Sister joined the Ministry of Prayer at St. Louise House in Albany and served there until the time of her death.
Sister Mary Zita is survived by her nephews John (Donna) McLaughlin of Parish, N.Y., and Howard (Mary O’Hara) McLaughlin of Syracuse, N.Y.; her nieces, Mary Grace Blair of Florida, Kathleen Zuckerman of Florida, Mary Ellen Boyer of Ohio, Louise (Joseph) Galeo of Michigan; and her Sisters in Community.