Sr. Mary St. John Delany, RDC, a Sister of the Divine Compassion, died peacefully on September 19, 2019.
Sr. Mary St. John was born in New York City in 1923, the daughter of John and Florence Delany. She attended St. John's Elementary and Good Counsel High School. Sister received her BA in History from Good Counsel College and MS from Columbia Teachers College. Sister also received her PhD from Fordham University in Language and Literacy.
Sister began her career in teaching at St. Bernard's Elementary School. She remained there for 20 years followed by 7 years as Principal of St. Anthony's School in West Harrison. Sister was a longtime Associate Professor in the School of Education at Pace University and also served as the faculty chair in the school. In 1972 she founded the Delany Center to help improve the developmental reading skills of children. Because of her outstanding work with so many in White Plains, Sister was awarded the keys to the city by Mayor Tom Roach in 2015.
Sister Laura Donovan, President of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion said, "Sister loved to empower children, teens and adults by sharing her skills that included teaching reading, writing, language and culture as well as opening the sacramental life to children with special needs."
Sister Mary St. John is survived by her Sisters of the Divine Compassion, several cousins and the Haughey Family. Sister was predeceased by her sister, Joan Delany.
