A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Paula McGuire, D.C., was celebrated Aug. 8, 2013, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Emmitsburg.
Sister Paula died Aug. 5, 2013, at 88 years of age at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg. In December of 2012, she celebrated 69 years of vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Baltimore, Md., on Dec. 1, 1924, Sister Paula was one of six children born to Charles and Margaret McGuire. She was baptized Mary Elizabeth.
Sister Paula entered the Daughters of Charity in December 1943. Her first missions were St. Ann’s School in Bridgeport, Conn. (1945), and St. Ambrose School in Endicott, N.Y. (1945 – 1956), where she taught in the elementary grades. In 1957, Sister earned her Bachelor of Science degree in secretarial science from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, Md. Sister also earned a Master of Science in administration and supervision from St. John’s University in Jamaica, N.Y., in 1967, and her master’s degree in religious education from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1979.
Sister Paula served as principal at St. Catherine Laboure School in Harrisburg, Penn. (1957 – 1958); Our Lady of Peace in Canton, Ohio (1959 – 1963); and St. Dominic School in Baltimore (1967 – 1973). Sister Paula was seminary (Novitiate) assistant in 1958 and 1959, as well as from 1963 to 1967, in Emmitsburg, Md. In later years she taught religion at St. Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Md. (1973 – 1982), and at Seton High School in Baltimore (1982 – 1986). From 1992 to 1994, Sister Paula served in support roles at St. Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg. From 1994 to 1997, she coordinated support services at St. Ann’s Infant Home in Hyattsville, Md. Sister taught a few years at St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, W.V., before joining the Ministry of Prayer at Villa Saint Michael in Emmitsburg in 2002.
Sister Paula is survived by one brother, Francis, of Parkville, Md., and many nieces and nephews.