Sister Mary DePazzi Socha, RSM, passed away on June 21. She was 104.
A beloved member of the Sisters of Mercy for over 86 years, Sister Mary was truly the “matriarch” of the former Brooklyn Regional Community.
Her faithfulness, wisdom, and quiet joy touched lives across generations and decades.
She began her lifelong ministry in education in St. Gregory School, Crown Heights (1941-42), Holy Innocents (‘42-’43), St. Patrick, Bay Shore (‘43-’44, ‘56-’60), St. Therese of Lisieux (‘44-’45), Convent of Mercy (‘45-’46), St. Agatha (‘46-’56), St. Joseph the Worker, Patchogue (‘60-’61), St. Brigid (‘61-’68), St. Bernard (‘68-’74), Holy Trinity DHS (‘74-’91).
She is survived by her sister and many loving nieces and nephews, as well as grandnieces and grandnephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Whitestone.
Burial followed at St. Charles/ Resurrection Cemetery in Farmingdale.
Sister Mary Bride Fahy, RSM, passed away on the morning of June 26 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey. She was 85 years old.
Catherine Fahy, the daughter of Martin and Bridget Fahy, grew up in the shadow of the first Convent of Mercy on Willoughby Avenue and formed a relationship with the Sisters who taught her in St. Patrick’s School, which may have helped her embrace the life she would ultimately lead for 65 years.
Sister Mary began her more than six decades in education in the elementary schools of Our Lady of Mercy (1962-’63), St. Gerard Majella (‘63-’70), and St. Patrick, Bay Shore (‘70-’71).
From there, she went on to Mater Christi/St. John’s Prep, where she was a teacher and assistant principal for 34 years.
She brought knowledge, compassion, and joy to countless students in the tradition of Catherine McAuley.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Whitestone.
Burial followed at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village.
Sister Mary Donna Murphy, OP, passed away on July 14. She was 81 years old and had served as a sister of St. Dominic of Amityville for 63 years.
On April 17, 1944, Raymond and Catherine (Kerney) Murphy welcomed their second baby girl, Margaret Ann (Peggy), into their home in Brooklyn.
Peggy and her siblings attended Holy Family School in Brooklyn. Holy Family was always dear to her heart.
After graduating from Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School in Brooklyn, Peggy answered the call to enter the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville on Sept. 9, 1962.
Sister Donna, along with the other members of her set, professed first vows on Aug. 8, 1964, and professed final vows on Aug. 8, 1967.
Sister Donna received a Bachelor of Arts in Latin from St. John’s University in Jamaica, a Masters of Science in Education from Fordham University, Bronx, and a Certificate in Administration/Supervision, also from Fordham University.
She began her ministry in elementary education as a teacher at Incarnation School and then at St. Clement Pope School, both located in Queens.
After teaching for 10 years, she was called upon to serve as principal of All Saints School in Brooklyn, where she remained for 19 years before becoming principal of Mary Queen of Heaven School, also in Brooklyn, for an additional 19 years.
Donna then accepted a position with the New York City Board of Education, where she supervised special education teachers in various schools for three years.
Services took place on July 24, followed by Mass of the Resurrection.
Interment took place in the St. Dominic Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds.