we remember . . . marie eileen moyer, ssj

Sister Marie Eileen Moyer, SSJ, age 79, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on February 18, 2018.  She was in the 60thyear of her religious life.  She was born in Schenectady, NY, on August 10, 1938, the daughter of the late Elmo and Georgia (Murray) Moyer. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from Our Lady of the Angels, Cuba, NY in 1958 and professed her final vows in 1966. This year, 2018, she would have celebrated 60 years of religious life.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.  Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious and because I love you.”         Isaiah 43:1-2, 4-5

Sister Marie Eileen earned a BS degree in Business Education from Villa Maria College, Erie, PA; and a MBA degree in Finance/Accounting from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO.

Sister Marie Eileen taught at St. John, Villa Maria Elementary, Our Lady’s Christian, Holy Rosary, and Villa Maria Academy schools in Erie, and at St. Francis School, Clearfield, PA. She also had an extensive ministry career in business which included working in the Business Office at Spencer Hospital, Meadville, PA; the Registrar’s Office at St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO; serving as Business Manager at Villa Maria Academy, Erie; work in the Communications Center at Villa Maria College/Gannon University, Erie and she was Director of Finance at Villa Maria Center, Erie.  She ministered at Saint Mary’s at Asbury Ridge as a social service assistant and retired from active ministry in 2016 while working in finance for Villa Maria Campus, Inc.

One of Sister Marie Eileen’s significant ministries was her service as Administrator of St. Patrick’s Haven, where she served from 1989 until 2000 while, at the same time, continuing her work in other ministry.  “In truth, without her we probably would have had to close St. Patrick’s Haven,” said Mary Fromknecht, SSJ, and current Director of St. Patrick’s Haven.  “Few others had the heart for the Haven in the early years as did Sr. Marie Eileen.  She continued to serve as a current board member.”

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Moyer.   She is survived by her sisters, Patricia Lacy, Summerville, SC; and Mary K. Foley, Newport News, VA and her sister-in-law, Jackie Moyer, Austin, TX.  She is also survived by her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph.