Sister Margaret (Peggy) Byrne, OP, (Sister Mary Brita) passed away on Jan. 9, 2024, and was taken to meet her God. She was 79 years old and had generously and faithfully lived her Dominican life for 62 years. 

Peggy was born on April 20, 1944. She lived with her family in Queens Village and attended Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, where she went to elementary school. 

It was at Dominican Commercial High School that the stirrings of Peggy’s Dominican vocation were nurtured. 

On Sept. 9,1962, Peggy entered the Novitiate at Amityville. She was given the Dominican habit on Aug. 5, 1963, and received her religious name, Sister Mary Brita. Her First Vows were pronounced on Aug. 7, 1964 and Final Vows on Aug. 7, 1967. 

Peggy earned a Bachelor of Science degree at St. John’s University and a Master of Arts degree at La Salle University in Pennsylvania. She later was awarded a Master of Science degree from the College of New Rochelle. Peggy’s ministries included serving as an elementary school teacher at several schools in Queens and Brooklyn from 1964 to 1987. From 1987 to 1995, she went on to serve as a Religious Education Director and Parish Services Coordinator at several parishes in Nassau County. 

Throughout her life, Peggy was very involved in spirituality. She enjoyed leading all kinds of weekend retreats and prayer groups with the Dominican Community at Mastic Beach. 

The wake and funeral for our Sister Peggy took place at St. Albert Chapel on Jan. 16, 2024. A prayer service was followed by the Mass of Christian Burial and Interment at St. Dominic Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds.