Sister Anna Marie Theresa Macklin passed away on Jan. 5 while residing at Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood. She grew up in Maspeth, attending Saint Stanislaus Kostka School.

Upon graduating from Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School in 1954, Anna Marie entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph and was given the name Sister Mary Matthew. 

Her long and illustrious teaching ministry began at Saint Mary’s Nativity and continued at Holy Name of Jesus, Our Lady of Good Counsel, and Saint Ambrose. 

In 1969, Sister was sent to teach English to the high school students at Academia San Jorge in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and evening classes for adults. 

Returning to the Brooklyn Diocese, she taught at Stella Maris High School, Bishop Kearney High School, Saint John’s Prep, and Saint Patrick’s. 

Sister earned a BA in English from Saint Joseph’s College for Women, an MA in English from Brooklyn College, and an Ed.D in Administration and Supervision from Saint John’s University.

She also taught at the College of Aeronautics and was education director for the Pius XII Youth and Family Services in the Bronx. 

Sister Anna Marie was the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including a Grant at Yeats International Summer School in County Sligo, Ireland; Brooklyn College Grant in Women’s Studies, and Creative Teaching Awards (Diocese of Brooklyn Principals Association) for three successive years. 

A gifted writer and poet, Sister Anna Marie’s works were published in The Tablet, FOCUS (CSJ publication), the Journal of Pastoral Psychology, and the Des Moines Register. 

In her retirement years at Saint Joseph Convent and at Maria Regina Residence, Sister Anna Marie continued to write poems, essays, and prayer services for Congregational celebrations. 

Father Peter Pflomm presided at the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Anna Marie in Sacred Heart Chapel. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery on the Brentwood grounds