Sister Mary Chrisara

Sister Mary Chrisara   ND  4519              ⇒ PDF Download
Margaret Ann FISHLEY

Christ the King Province, Chardon, Ohio, USA

Date and Place of Birth:   October 30, 1931        Cleveland, Ohio
Date and Place of Profession: August 16, 1952         Cleveland, Ohio
Date and Place of Death:    December 30, 2013   Health Care Center, Chardon
Date and Place of Funeral:   January 7, 2014           Chardon, Ohio
Date and Place of Burial:     January 8, 2014         Resurrection Cemetery,Chardon

Margaret Ann was the younger of the two children born to Christian and Sarah (Finucan) Fishley. Peggy’s parents had loving, joy-filled hearts and deep faith. These were happy years where love and concern for one another was nurtured and blossomed. Peggy and her brother, Bill, enjoyed and appreciated family activities and summer vacation travel.

After completing elementary grades at Gesu School, University Heights, Peggy attended Notre Dame Academy, Cleveland. Her high school years were filled with friends, wonderful classes and teachers, participation in many sports and a realization that God was calling her to religious life. She loved life and felt spoiled by God’s goodness; giving her life to God was a way of saying, “Thank you.” Peggy entered the Sisters of Notre Dame on September 8, 1949, from St. Louis Parish, Cleveland Heights. At investment she received the name Sister Mary Chrisara.

Sister received a bachelor’s degree from St. John College, Cleveland, and a master’s degree in education from Xavier University, Cincinnati. She devoted thirty-six years to the ministry of education as teacher and/or principal at elementary schools in Ohio and Virginia. Sister Mary Chrisara later ministered as a receptionist/secretary at Missionhurst Retreat Center, Arlington, Virginia, and assisted in a variety of ways at Notre Dame Academy, Middleburg, Virginia. Wherever help was needed, Sister was present!

In 1994, Sister moved to the Provincial Center and began a ministry dear to her heart since she was 16 years old—driving. She drove the sisters wherever they needed to go and was well-known for her collection of maps and detailed drawings to help others find their way. When not on the road, Sister Mary Chrisara was ever available. She would do anything for anyone at anytime. Her generosity, sense of humor, laughter and kindness made her approachable and comfortable to be with. She was gifted with an inherent sense of the dignity and the lovableness of each person. Reflecting the Christ within, Sister included and welcomed all in her circle of friends.

Sister Mary Chrisara began to recognize memory loss and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and in 2005 knew it was time to give up her beloved driving ministry. She faced this part of her life’s journey with trust and surrender. Sister was a resident at Regina Health Center for several years to benefit from more specialized care, but was able to return to our Chardon Health Care Center in 2009. Sister Mary Chrisara was a prayerful woman whose gentle, unadorned spirit and manner of living revealed her love for our good and gracious God. May she rest now, peacefully, in God’s loving embrace.