Sister Marie Hegarty, O.P., 85, a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Amityville, for 67 years, died Feb. 15.
Born in Manhattan, she grew up in Resurrection-Ascension parish, Rego Park. She attended her parish school and Dominican Commercial H.S. in Jamaica.
She worked as a camp counselor with the Dominican Sisters at St. Joseph’s Camp, Monticello, N.Y.
She entered the novitiate in 1951. The following year, she received her habit and religious name, Sister Lawrence Marie.
She taught at St. Barbara School in Bushwick, 1953-56; St. Patrick’s, Huntington, L.I., 1956-57; Good Shepherd, Marine Park, 1957-59, and St. Leonard’s, Bushwick, 1959-61.
In 1969, she was appointed principal at Notre Dame School, New Hyde Park.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at St. John’s University and a master’s in business education at Hunter College. In 1972, she returned to Dominican Commercial as a teacher in the business department and then as a financial officer, 1978-94.
In 1990, she moved to Richmond Hill, where she lived the Dominican tradition of common prayer, ministry and hospitality.
From 1994 to 2000, she ministered at Regina Residence, Merrick, L.I. She also served as librarian and secretarial assistant at St. Mel’s, Flushing, 2000-07, remaining there as a volunteer until 2011 when she retired.
She is survived by her brother, Lawrence, and her sister, Alice.
She also taught at Bishop McDonnell Memorial in Brooklyn on Eastern Parkway. She was a very kind teacher, always encouraging with a smile. She as my mentor in 1963-64. The last time I saw her was at a reunion several years ago. I still think of her often. God rest her soul in Peace.