Sister Mary Rachael McGuire, SSJ, age 105, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on April 27, 2024. She was in the 84th year of her religious life and the second oldest Sister in the Diocese of Erie. Sister was born in New York City, NY, on August 24, 1918, the daughter of the late Richard and Stella McFrederick McGuire. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Agatha Parish, Meadville, PA, on September 4, 1940, professed her final vows on August 15, 1946, and celebrated 80 years of religious life in 2020.
Sister Mary Rachael graduated from St. Agatha High School, Meadville, PA, in 1936 and continued her education at Villa Maria College, graduating in 1958 with a bachelor of arts degree in English. She earned a master’s degree in English from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., in 1964 and a master’s degree in French from Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1968.
Sister Mary Rachael taught at both the elementary and secondary levels in Erie, Clearfield, Meadville, and Bradford, PA. During that time, she also served in clerical positions at Saint Vincent Hospital, the former Spencer Hospital in Meadville, and Harborcreek Training School. She also taught French and English at Cathedral Preparatory School.
She retired in 2008 and continued to enjoy tennis, swimming, and golf for many years.
In addition to her parents, Sister Mary Rachael was preceded in death by two brothers, Fr. Richard J. McGuire and Charles McGuire; and three sisters, infant Theresa McGuire, Irene Berquist, and Ann Collier. She is survived by one sister, Mary Jane Durlofsky, San Jose, CA. She is also survived by her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Friends may call at the Sisters of St. Joseph Community Living Center, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, on Thursday, May 2, 2024, beginning at 1:00 p.m. with prayer and sharing of memories. Calling hours will continue until the Mass of Christian Burial at 4:00 p.m. The mass will be livestreamed on the Sisters of St. Joseph YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/SSJErie/live. The interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Mission & Ministries Foundation, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA, 16506-1249. Burton Quinn-Scott Cremation & Funeral Services Inc. is handling arrangements.
