Sister Mary Delaney, 84, teacher in many Catholic schools

Sister Mary Delaney, who taught at every level of the Catholic school system in the region over 60 years as a nun, died Dec. 23 at the age of 84.

Sister Mary grew up in West Philadelphia.

She attended Our Lady of Victory Parochial School and West Catholic High School, graduating in 1942.

She earned a bachelor's degree in English and Latin from Villanova, a master's in English and linguistics from Catholic University and an Ed.D degree in English education from Temple.

She professed her vows as a Sister of Mercy in 1948.

On the elementary school level, Sister Mary taught at St. Joseph School, in Summit Hill, Pa., from 1948 to 1949, and Our Lady of Lourdes and at St. Malachy, in Philadelphia until 1955.

She then moved to secondary education and taught at Hallahan High School from 1955 to 1958, Archbishop Prendergast, 1958-1959, Bishop Egan, 1959-1962, and Gwynedd-Mercy Academy, 1962-1969.

Moving into higher education, Sister Mary taught in the English Department at Gwynedd-Mercy College from 1962 to 1996, and served as chairperson of the department from 1965 to 1968.

In 1981, she received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching at Gwynedd-Mercy.

She moved to McAuley Convent in Merion in 1996.

She is survived by a sister, Cecilia Mahon.

Services: Funeral Liturgy 10:30 a.m. today at the Convent of Mercy Chapel, 515 Montgomery Ave., Merion Station.

Viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Community Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic Community, 515 Montgomery Ave., Merion Station, Pa. 19066. *