MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Sister Mary Palance, MPF, a member of the Religious Teacher Filippini, died in the early morning, Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at Saint Joseph Hall, Villa Walsh, Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 95.
The Most Rev. Daniel Cronin, Archbishop Emeritus of Hartford, Connecticut, was the celebrant and homilist for Sister Mary’s Mass of Christian Burial, which was offered on November 20 in St. Lucy Chapel at Villa Walsh, Morristown, New Jersey. Interment was at Ave Maria Cemetery.
Sister Mary was born and raised in Bristol, Connecticut. She entered the Religious Teachers Filippini in 1939, received her habit in 1940, and made her religious profession in 1943. She was a member of the community for 77 years. Sister Mary was awarded a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey, and held a M.A. in Elementary Education Administration from Rhode Island College, Providence.
Sister Mary taught in the following schools: St. Joseph, Hammonton, New Jersey; Assumption School Bayonne, New Jersey; St. James School, Trenton, New Jersey; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Meriden, Connecticut; Holy Redeemer School, Cleveland, Ohio; St. Ann School, York, New York. And was the principal at St. Mary School, Cranston, Rhode Island, and St. Anthony School, Bristol, Connecticut.
In addition, she served as Superior of St. Mary Convent, Cranston, Rhode Island; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Convent, Meriden, Connecticut; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Bristol, Rhode Island; and at Our Lady of the Eucharist, West Hartford.
Sister Mary assumed many administrative positions in the Institute. She was assistant directress for novices, provincial superior for six years in Queen of Apostles Province, Bristol, Connecticut; provincial councilor for two terms; and general councilor for the Institute, at the Generalate level in Rome for six years.
In 1996, Sister Mary became director of the Archbishop Cronin’s Residence in West Harford, Connecticut, and remained there until 2015 when she retired to St. Joseph Hall in Morristown, New Jersey.
Sister Mary’s greatest asset was her willingness to serve in any capacity that fulfilled the mission of the Community. The legacy she leaves behind is her spirit of joy, generosity and service.
Sister Mary is pre-deceased by her parents, the late Francisco Palance and Rosina (Perone) Palance; brothers: Philip, Donato, Anthony, Michael, and sisters Louise, Lucy, Josephine, Sister Grace Palance, MPF and Theresa. She is survived by James (of Bristol, CT) and Matthew (of Henderson, Nevada) and many loving nieces and nephews.
Donations in memory of Sister Mary Palance may be sent to St. Joseph Hall, c/o Sr. Ascenza Tizzano, MPF, Provincial Superior, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960.
