Sister M. Assumpta Ferrara, a member of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, Villa Rossello, Newfield, died Sunday, July 31, at Misericordia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, York, Pa. where she had been a resident for just a few days.
Sister Assumpta, born in Saskatchewan, Canada, was the daughter of the late Agostino (James) and Theresa (Giudici) Ferrara. Soon after Sister Assumpta was born, the family settled in Springfield, Mass.
Sister Assumpta entered the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, in York on Dec. 31, 1934 and professed her Vows on Aug. 16, 1936.
Having obtained her bachelor’s degree in education from College Misericordia, Dallas, Pa., and an master’s degree in school administration from Seton Hall University, West Orange, N.J., Sister Assumpta ministered for many years as a teacher and principal in schools staffed by the religious order, including St. Mary Magdalen’s, Millville, St. Rose of Lima, Newfield, and St. Joseph’s Swedesboro.
She also studied nursing at St. Joseph Hospital in Lancaster in order to serve as an licensed practical nurse and later as administrator at Misericordia Nursing Center, York.
She also did parish mission work in Monesson, Pa. for a brief time. For a number of years she ministered at Holy Child Nursery, York.
A missionary at heart, Sister Assumpta had a special love and interest in the religious order’s mission in Gonaives, Haiti. She involved her family, especially her nephew Jim Boldebook, in an effort to raise money to support and maintain this mission. She also personally served at the mission several times for a few months at a time in order to help the very poor, especially the children.
At the end of her years in active ministry, she continued her support of the mission in Haiti as well as the Order’s mission in Mandeville, Jamaica from the Order’s provincial House in Newfield, until her retirement in 2009 at Mercy Residence, York.
A statement from her community said Sister Assumpta was known for her “outstanding zeal in ministry, her compassionate and far-reaching love for others and her fervent spirit of prayer. She had a genuine love for her religious congregation and for her family of birth.”
In addition to her parents, Sister Assumpta was preceded in death by her brother Edward.
She is survived by her religious community, the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, three sisters, Louise Boldebook, Josephine Loguidice and France Lavertue, a sister-in-law Shirley Ferrara, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews all of Massachusetts.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be take place at Villa Rossello Chapel, Newfield, on Friday, Aug. 5 at 11 a.m. with Father Joseph Capella as the main celebrant. Burial will follow at Pieta Cemetery on the grounds of Villa Rossello. Friends may call on Friday morning from 9:30 until before Mass.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Daughters of Mercy, Villa Rossello, 1009 Main Road, Newfield, NJ 08344.
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