Sister Margaret Mary Connolly, C.S.J., a Sister of St. Joseph, Brentwood, L.I., for 72 years, died on Aug. 23 at Stella Maris Convent, Rockaway.

She entered the congregation in 1946 from St. Martin of Tours parish in  Bushwick. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from St. John’s University, Jamaica; a bachelor’s in music from Marywood College, and a master’s in music education from Queens College.

Formerly Sister Margaret Xavier, she served at St. Teresa of Avila, Prospect Heights, 1948-49; Our Lady of Lourdes, Bushwick, 1949-50; St. Michael, Flushing, 1950-54; St. Pascal Baylon, St. Albans, 1954-57; St. John of God, Central Islip, L.I., 1957-59; St. Clare, Rosedale, 1959-65, and Blessed Sacrament, Cypress Hills, 1965-70.

She taught on the secondary level at St. Joseph H.S., Downtown Brooklyn, 1970-77, and then spent two decades at Holy Name, Windsor Terrace, 1977-97.

Subsequent ministries included Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunset Park, 1997-99; Hour Children, Long Island City, 1999-2000; and Stella Maris H.S., Rockaway Park, 2000-01.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 28.

Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.