OBITUARY: Sr. M. Margherita (Mary Ellen) Sutherland

Sister M. Margherita (Mary Ellen) Sutherland, 90, a Sister of Mercy for 72 years, died Friday, August 31, 2012, at Warde Health Center, Windham, New Hampshire, after a period of declining health. A native of Somerville, Massachusetts, Sister Margherita was the daughter of George and Bertha (Bigelow) Sutherland.

Sister Margherita received both her B.S. degree in Education and her M.A. degree in Education from Mount St. Mary College, Hooksett, New Hampshire. For more than 40 years, she taught at Catholic schools in New Hampshire, including Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Manchester; St. Raphael, Manchester; Sacred Heart, Lebanon; St. Patrick, Portsmouth; St. Mary, Claremont; St. Joseph, Manchester; Dover Catholic, Dover; and was vice principal at St. John, Concord.

In addition to teaching, Sister Margherita was also a gifted seamstress for the Sisters of Mercy and the community at large.

Besides her parents, Sister Margherita was predeceased by a sister, Eileen Noris; and four brothers, Richard, Francis, Paul, and William. Survivors include a brother-in-law, George Noris of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be from 3 to 4 p.m., on Thursday, September 6, at Warde Health Center, 21 Searles Road, Windham, New Hampshire. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 4 p.m. in the chapel at Warde Health Center. Burial will be Friday, September 7, at Saint Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, New Hampshire.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 21 Searles Road, PO Box 420, Windham, NH 03087-0420.