CHARLESTON—The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy lost two of their members recently.
Sister Jean Marie O’Shea died Aug. 12 at the age of 81 and Sister M. Marcella Zwingmann died Aug. 13 at the age of 93. Both were at May Forest Motherhouse.
The Mass of Christian burial for Sister Jean Marie was held Aug. 16 and for Sister Marcella on Aug. 18, both at May Forest. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Sister Jean Marie, formerly Mary Regina, was born on June 11, 1931, in New York City. A graduate of St. Angela Academy in Aiken, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Villanova University.
Sister Jean Marie entered the convent on Aug. 15, 1951. She professed her first vows on April 19, 1954, and final vows April 6, 1957. She taught at many schools, including 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, St. Michael’s in Gibbstown, N.J., and Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Middlesex, N.J.
She also served at the Charleston Home for Children and was director of religious education at Blessed Sacrament and St. Joseph churches in Charleston.
From 2002-2012 Sister Jean Marie was director of senior ministry at Blessed Sacrament.
In 2007, she received the Post & Courier Jefferson Award in recognition of her service to the community.
Sister Jean Marie is survived by cousins and the Our Lady of Mercy sisters.
Sister Marcella, formerly Rosalie Charlotte, was born on Aug. 31, 1918, to John A. and Marie E. Jones Zwingmann.
A graduate of Bishop England High School, she received a bachelor’s degree from the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore, Md.; a master’s in French from the Catholic University in Washington, DC; and a master’s in guidance from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.
Sister Marcella was awarded NDEA grants for graduate study at St. Teresa/St. Mary College in Winona, Minn., and Universite Catholique in Paris, France, and was chosen for a Second Level Institute at Toulouse, France, sponsored by Clemson University.
She attended graduate classes at The Citadel in Charleston, the University of South Carolina-Aiken, Loyola University in New Orleans, and Sacred Heart College in Belmont, N.C.
Sister Marcella entered the convent on June 15, 1936, and professed her vows on Feb. 2, 1939.
A professional educator, she taught in Cathedral School and St. Patrick School in Charleston, and St. Mary School in Greenville.
She also served as a teacher of Latin and French, and was dean of girls and chairperson of the language department at Bishop England High School, where she was instrumental in establishing a chapter of the National Honor Society.
Sister Marcella also served as a principal, teacher and guidance counselor at St. Angela Academy in Aiken, and principal of St. Anne School in Sumter.
From 1974 to 1977, Sister Marcella was a teacher and guidance director at Trident Academy in Mount Pleasant.
She was director of the OLM Associate Program from 1990 to 2007. In retirement, Sister Marcella was an active participant in the prayer ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.
She was a member of many professional organizations and received numerous awards for her contributions in education.
Sister Marcella is survived by a nephew, several nieces, and the Our Lady of Mercy sisters.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Center, PO Box 607, Johns Island, SC 29457.