Sister Margaret Harrison, OP of the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, New York, died on February 4, 2023, in Siena Hall, Dominican Convent. Sister was 98 years old and in her 78th year of religious life.
Born in New York City on August 21, 1924, Margaret was the daughter of Martin and Mary Clune Harrison. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1945 and received the name Sister Mariella. She professed her first vows in 1947 and final vows in 1952.
Sister Margaret received a BS in Education from Fordham University, NY, 1956; MA in Business Education, College of St. Rose, Albany, NY, 1964; and an MA in Religious Studies, Manhattan College, Bronx, NY, 1971.
Sister Margaret taught in the following schools: St. Brendan, Bronx (1947-1948); Cardinal McCloskey, White Plains (1948-1952); St. Edmund, Brooklyn (1952-1953); St. Rose of Lima, NYC (1953-1954); Thorpe Secretarial, NYC (1954-1959); Cathedral HS (1959-1968); Principal, St. Anthony, Yonkers (1968-1972); Assistant Principal, Rosary Academy, Sparkill (1972-1981). She served in the Office of Financial Services, Dominican Convent, Sparkill (1981-1983); Director of Religious Education, Our Lady of Visitation Parish, Newark, NJ (1983-1988); and Pastoral Associate at St. Valentine Parish, Newark, NJ (1988-1990). Sister Margaret was the Congregational Archivist (1990-2002), and Special Projects Assistant (2002-2004) for the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, NY. From 2004-2013, Sr. Margaret continued in community service in Dominican Convent.
Sister Margaret is predeceased by her parents Martin and Mary Clune Harrison, her brother James and wife Johanna. She is survived by her nieces, Jean Evans, Maureen Sheehan, Joanne Mazar, Peggy Harrison, Mary Beth Geden and grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister Margaret touched the lives of countless children and adults in her ministry as teacher, administrator, pastoral associate and in congregational service. For more than 75 years, she proclaimed the word of God through ministry for justice and reverence for all creation as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill. May she be welcomed into the fullness of God’s presence. Well done, good and faithful servant, Sister Margaret Harrison. May you rest in peace and may God hold you in the palm of his hand.