New York’s Staten Island According to a posted obituary, Sister Mary Michael French, who dedicated 75 years of her life to religious life and service, passed away on Monday at the age of 94.
According to the obituary, French spent the majority of her life on Staten Island, despite having been born in Manhattan in 1930.
Her first step toward a lifetime of religion was joining the Presentation Sisters of Staten Island in 1949 when she was barely 19 years old.
French studied French at Iona and Columbia Universities before graduating with a Bachelor of Science from Fordham University.
In 1951, she began her teaching career at Our Lady Queen of Peace. At the beginning of her teaching career at Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC), where she first taught French, she made her first religious vows in 1952 and her last vows in 1955.
French is quoted in the obituary as saying, “The greatest reward in my life has been teaching children.” Every child bears an enduring Heart Print from being taught like Jesus did.
According to a previous report by Advance/SILive.com, she taught an estimated 800 pupils at OLHC between 1952 and 1966. Before being called to teach off-Island in 1980, she continued to teach at several other Staten Island schools, including as St. Sylvester’s, St. Paul’s, Assumption’s, and St. Ann’s.
According to the obituary, French spent 21 years working as a Religion Enhancement Teacher in Tottenville before returning home to OLHC for an additional seven years in 1998.
Memunatu Mansaray, on the right, watches as Sister Mary Michael French gives Mohamed Conteh a hug.Advance File Photo of Staten Island
For her commitment to the Tottenville school’s students, French received the yearly Lou Caporicci Community Service Award in March 2005.
French said, “Children are still the love of my life, even though there have been many changes since 1952,” as she reflected on her lengthy career.
French was honored to have taught several generations of kids in the same family, according to the obituary.
OLHC pupils told Sister, “You taught my father!” according to the obituary.
During the 2005 award ceremony, French mentioned that being a successful teacher requires prayer, patience, perseverance, and a great sense of humor.
She demonstrated her sense of humor when, just before giving her acceptance speech, she warned the audience, in a lighthearted but instructive manner, “You don’t want to make me come back there.”
Although she resigned in 2010, she kept tutoring till 2018.
In addition to her many cherished friends and former students, French is survived by her sisters in the Presentation Community.
View the complete funeral plans and obituary >>
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