Sister Natalie (Margaret Isabelle) McCubbin, D.C., age 97, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on November 30, 2022. She was born July 28, 1925, in Baltimore, Maryland to Mary Josephine (Keenan) and Joseph Henry McCubbin. Before entering the Community, Sister Natalie was a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Baltimore. She graduated from Seton High School in Baltimore in 1944 and entered the Daughters of Charity December 5, 1945. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Science in 1962 from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg and her Master of Arts in Elementary Education Administration and Supervision in 1983 from Loyola College in Baltimore.
Following initial formation, Sister Natalie was missioned to Labouré Center (then Columbus Day Nursery) in Boston where she worked with preschool children (1946-1948). After a period of time at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore for health reasons, she then returned to Emmitsburg to study at St. Joseph College (1951-1952). Following this, she served as an elementary school teacher at St. Euphemia School, Emmitsburg (1952-1955); Our Lady of Lourdes School in Utica, New York (1955-1966); St. Joseph School in Holbrook, Massachusetts (1966-1969); and St. Pius X School in Greensboro, North Carolina (1969-1972). She then assumed the role of Principal at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Baltimore (1972-1973) and Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg (1973-1979). Her next mission was as a teacher at St. John the Evangelist School in Waynesville, North Carolina (1979-1980) and then as a Business Manager at Seton High School, Baltimore (1980-1981) at which time she also began studying for her master’s degree. After this, Sister Natalie continued her service as Principal at St. Pius X School in Greensboro (1981-1990) and Saints Peter and Paul School in Oak Hill, West Virginia (1990-1992). She then was asked to be the Sister Servant of the retired Sisters in Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg (1992-2000).
Several missions followed: Pastoral Minister at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida (2000-2001) and Librarian and Religion Teacher at St. Joseph School in Petersburg, Virginia (2001-2008). In her many years in Catholic education, Sister Natalie was most passionate about passing on the faith and values to the children. In 2008, Sister Natalie was missioned to Villa St. Michael where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Natalie was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Mary Regina LaFlame, and her brother, Joseph McCubbin. She is survived by her sister, Ann (Nancy) Marie Etzel, nieces and nephews, and her Sisters in Community.
A Wake service was held on Tuesday, December 6 in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. The Mass of Christian Burial took place on Wednesday, December 7 in the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg. Burial followed in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.