Sister Rita Meaney, S.C., (Sister Maureen Catherine), who dedicated 63 years of ministry to child care and child services and to families who loved and supported children in need, died Oct. 20, at St. Joseph Nursing Home in Yonkers. She was 93.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 23 at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, Mount St. Vincent.

Born in Bronx, she attended St. Augustine School, the Bronx, and Cathedral H.S., Manhattan, before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York in 1944. She received her degree in business administration from the College of Mount St. Vincent and an MSW in social work from Fordham University. She later earned permanent NYS certification in Nursing Home Administration and Social Work.

She made her final profession on Aug. 29, 1949.

She began her ministry as an elementary teacher at St. Joseph Academy and St. John the Evangelist, both in Manhattan. In 1951, she began her long association with child care when she went to St. Agatha Home in Nanuet, L.I. Over her 15 years there, she filled many roles.

In 1966, she was assigned to St. Joseph Hall, Brooklyn, where for the next 30 years, she served as administrator, and through its transition to St. Joseph Services for Children and Families, which she served as executive director from 1985 to 1995.

She was credited with providing the leadership and programs needed as methods and the philosophy of child care radically changed throughout the country.

After leaving St. Joseph Services, she volunteered in the adoption department of the New York Foundling for several years.

Burial was in St. Raymond Cemetery, Bronx.