CHARLESTON—Sister Mary Clement Fine, a Sister of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, died Aug. 27 at the May Forest motherhouse. She was 97.
A vigil service was held at the motherhouse on Aug. 29, followed by the Mass of Christian burial on Aug. 30. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Sister Mary Clement, formerly Mary Pauline Fine, was born in Livermore, Iowa, on June 29, 1914, a daughter of Edward Joseph and Marie Camilla DePaula Fine.
She was an honor graduate of North Charleston High School and received a bachelor’s degree in Latin from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Ohio, a master’s in library science from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, and a certificate in elementary education from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C.
Sister Mary Clement entered the convent on June 15, 1936, and professed her first vows in 1939 and her final vows in 1949.
She taught at various schools, including the Cathedral and Sacred Heart in Charleston, St. Mary in Greenville, St. Anne in Sumter, St. Mary Help of Christians in Aiken, Christ Our King/Stella Maris in Mount Pleasant, and St. Michael in Gibbstown, N.J, where she also served as librarian.
The religious sister also served as a catechist at St. Anthony Parish in Hightstown, N.J., and at St. Anne, Sacred Heart and St. Mary Help of Christian schools.
Sister Mary Clement was a longtime member of the Catholic Library Association and National Library Association.
In retirement, she was an active participant in the prayer ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.
She is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and her religious community.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Center, P.O. Box 607, Johns Island, SC 29457.