BUFFALO, NY—Sister Maryjane Golden, a Sister of Saint Mary of Namur, who was a science and faith formation teacher, and parish administrator, died Aug. 7 at the Saint Mary Center. She was 70.
The Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 12 at St. Mary Center Chapel. Burial was at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, in Tonawanda.
Born in Binghamton to Earl and Eleanor McGinnis Golden, she entered the Belgian congregation in 1960 and made her perpetual vows in 1969. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Medaille College in 1967 and her master’s in pastoral ministry from LaSalle University in 1984.
Her early teaching years were spent at Blessed Sacrament School and St. Paul School in Kenmore. She became the Lockport Catholic Middle School building principal in the 70s, but eventually went to the South to work in parish ministry in St. Ann Parish in Kingstree, S.C., where she also served as moderator.
In 1978, she returned to her hometown, Binghamton, to work in St. Mary Parish. After that, she became a team member of the staff at Our Lady of Lourdes in Buffalo and St. Boniface. She later was called to be the administrator of one community at Mount St. Mary.
She returned to South Carolina and parish ministry in Kingstree in 1984 for four years, followed by two years in Garden City, S.C. From 1990 to 1996, she became the assistant provincial followed by two more southern missions: St. Patrick Church in Charleston, S.C., and St. John the Beloved Church in Summerville, S.C. after a sabbatical in San Antonio, Texas.
She celebrated her 50th anniversary as a religious in 2010. The Miscellany interviewed parishioners who commented on Sister Maryjane’s ease with children, calling her a natural storyteller with an innate ability to capture the imagination and attention of youth.
In her years of service, she said people’s lives were increasingly hectic, but her goal was simple.
“The greatest contribution anyone can make is to help keep people focused on the most important value, which is to live their spirituality and rejoice in how much God loves us,” Sister Maryjane said.
She said her life as a sister had been “blessed in many ways.”
She returned to Buffalo to become co-moderator at the Saint Mary Center. Her job focused on making life pleasant for the sisters who were ill.
Sister Maryjane is survived by her sisters in the congregation of Sisters of St. Mary of Namur; five siblings, Janice Turski, Kathleen Gadello, Joyce Golden, Elaine Cornick, and Elizabeth Golden; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, 241 Lafayette Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213, or visit www.ssmn.us.