Skelly, Sister Maureen (Sister Ann Marian), beloved Sister of Charity for seventy years, peacefully entered
eternity, resting in the arms of God, on September 25, 2024 at Elizabeth Seton Residence, Wellesley, MA.
She is predeceased by her father and mother, John J. Skelly and Laura (Geer) Skelly, her brother, Robert E.
Skelly and her sister, Laura Tracey, her niece, Kathy Monti and grandnephew, Bryan Thomas Flaherty.
Sister Maureen leaves her brother, John Skelly, Jr. and his wife, Louise, her sister-in-law, Evelyn Skelly and
her brother-in-law, Thomas Tracey, several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, her close
friend, Sister Grazyna Michniewicz, SC and her sisters throughout the Congregation of the Sisters of
Charity, Halifax. Sister Maureen’s life in ministry was multi-faceted. She began as a teacher in both
Yarmouth and Halifax, Nova Scotia and Arvida, Quebec. Returning to New York, she served as a teacher,
music educator and Music Consultant for the Catholic Schools in Brooklyn, NY. She served as a Campus
Minister at Queens College, NY and Rutger’s University, in New Jersey. As time moved on, Sister Maureen
broadened her ministry acquiring a doctoral degree from Saint John’s University, NY in Psychology,
specializing in Substance Abuse Rehabilitation and Counseling. She worked briefly at Elmhurst Hospital as
a unit supervisor of the Methadone Clinic and, after her retirement, volunteered at the Staten Island
University Hospital. Sister Maureen established the Sisters of Charity Associates on Staten Island. Retreat
work was at the heart of Sister Maureen’s ministry, primarily at Mount Manresa Retreat House on Staten
Island, where she was an Administrative Director, retreat and spiritual director and coordinator of spiritual
programs. Perhaps the pinnacle of her life in ministry is best captured in her response to the terror attack
of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Sister Maureen along with Sister Grazyna Michniewicz, SC
served as chaplains for the NYPD and NYFD at Ground Zero and the salvage site on Staten Island where
they offered respite, counselling and rest at Mount Manresa. Funeral Services will take place on Thursday,
October 3, 2024 at Mount Saint Vincent, 125 Oakland Street, Wellesley, MA 02481 with a Wake at 9:30
AM followed by a Prayer Service at 10:15 AM and the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:45 AM. In lieu of
flowers donations in memory of Sister Maureen Skelly may be made to the Sisters of Charity, Halifax, 125
Oakland Street, Wellesley, MA 02481.