Sister Margaret Boes

We commend to your charity the soul of our beloved
Sister Margaret Boes
Who departed this life on January 28, 2021
In the eighty-second year of her religious life
Age: 98 years, 4 months, 10 days

Due to Covid restrictions there will be no funeral liturgy at Providence Heights. Burial will be private. A memorial liturgy will be held at a later time.

Sister Margaret Boes, formerly Sister Flavia, entered religious life from Immaculate Conception Parish in Johnstown, PA. She was the sixth of nine children born to Edward V. Boes and Mary Stella Ritter. The Boes Family was made up of three boys and six girls. Her sister Virginia, (Sister Mary James), five years her senior, was also a member of the Sisters of Divine Providence. Sister Margaret credited her parents for giving her a strong foundation, and the Sisters of Divine Providence as her greatest influence.

Sister Margaret was well prepared for the ministry of education. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Duquesne University. She studied Theology at Notre Dame with advanced studies in religious education at Catholic University.

Teaching was one of the highlights of Margaret’s life. The atmosphere of her classroom was definitely a place for learning as she motivated students through incentives, encouraging them to set attainable goals resulting in high achievement. As a teacher, she was straight forward, yet always gentleness and honest.  She gained the respect of her students and their parents as well. She was perceptive, treating Jr. High students as adults and respected each one’s learning mode. She excelled in teaching Religion and favored Scripture.  Margaret taught in elementary schools in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Detroit. She spent long tenures at St. Basil’s in Carrick and St. Anne’s in Castle Shannon.

Sr. Margaret sustained a deep prayer life, especially nurturing devotion to the Holy Eucharist. She cultivated a special devotion to Mary, inspiring her students to pray the rosary. With the advent of Vatican II, Margaret embraced renewal.  She had a thirst for learning and used every opportunity to find a scripture class.

At the time of her 75th year of Jubilee, when reflecting on the charism of the Community, Sr. Margaret cited daily Mass, Prayer Services and Community activities as the most important and rewarding over the years.  She remembered fondly the ten summers she spent at Camp Mishannock in Kingston, MA where she and Sr. Mary Janet assisted young campers with making crafts.  Sr. Margaret was a “walker” and walked daily for exercise, until her failing health prevented this.  She enjoyed reading, especially current events and her favorite,  America magazine. Her special interests on T.V. were Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.  Sr. Margaret described herself as creative, exact and persevering.

At the time of her 75th Jubilee Sr. Margaret said, “This is what I want people to know:  I am grateful that my ability to accomplish what I was chosen to do was fulfilled ~ plus the people I met and remember.” I'm sure that Mary, knowing Margaret for her faithfulness, greeted her now and placed her in the arms of her Beloved Son.

Birthday: September 21
Sr. Marlene Luffy

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