A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Sept. 9 at Holy Family Chapel in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J., for Sister of Charity Mary Canavan, formerly Sister Assumpta Mary, who died on Sept. 1 at St. Catherine of Siena Health Care Center in Caldwell, N.J. She was 96. She was a member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth for 78 years.
Born in Ridgefield Park, N.J. to Frederick and Esther (Buckley) Canavan, Sister Canavan was the youngest of seven children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in French from the College of St. Elizabeth, now St. Elizabeth University, in Morris Township, and a master’s degree in education from Villanova University in Villanova, Penn.
Sister Canavan began her ministry in 1947 as an elementary school teacher, serving the former Our Lady Help of Christians School in East Orange, N.J.; Sacred Heart School in the Vailsburg neighborhood of Newark, N.J.; and the former Our Lady of All Souls School also in East Orange. Then she taught French and later was a guidance counselor at the former Bayley-Ellard High School in Madison, N.J., and the former Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, N.J.
Sister Canavan appointed dean of students at the College of St. Elizabeth. Then, she served in elected leadership in the Northern Province of the Sisters of Charity for six years, followed by eight years as assistant general superior, and eight years as general superior of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth.
After years in congregational leadership, Sister Canavan served as vice president for mission services at the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven, Ct. She also held many trustee positions at institutions sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth.
Upon retirement, Sister Canavan spent a decade in Hamilton, N.Y., where she volunteered at a residential school for adults who are developmentally disabled, a local nursing home, and a New York State correctional facility.
Returning to New Jersey, Sister Canavan became vice-postulator of the cause of Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, a ministry that culminated in the beatification of Blessed Miriam Teresa in October 2014.
Sister Canavan remained devoted to the Sisters of Charity, her family, and friends and valued the friendships she formed with the staff at St. Catherine of Siena. She also was an avid reader and lifelong learner.
Sister Mary was predeceased by her parents, Frederick and Esther Canavan; her brothers, Frederick, John, Peter, David, and Robert Canavan; and her sister, Esther Canavan Shields. She is survived by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth; her dearest friend, Sister Marilyn Thie; and countless nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, great great-nieces and great-great-nephews, cousins, and cherished friends.
Memorial donates in Sister Canavan’s name can be made to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, N.J., 07961-0476.
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