Sr. Laurence Montgomery, OSU
Sister Laurence Montgomery, OSU beloved member of the Ursuline Community, died peacefully on July 27, 2020 at Andrus, Hastings on Hudson, NY.
Born and raised in Wilmington, DE, Ann Patricia Montgomery (Sister Laurence) was the daughter of Margaret Mulrooney Montgomery and Leo Montgomery. Sister graduated from Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, and attended the University of Delaware for three years before entering the Ursuline Order in Beacon, NY in February 1941 and professing her vows in August 1943.
Sister Laurence is predeceased by her parents and brothers Father Leo Montgomery and James Montgomery and his wife Mary. She is survived by her loving Ursuline Community and her niece Mary Catherine Gorman Hoelen and her husband John.
Sister earned a BA from the College of New Rochelle and an MA in Elementary Education from Catholic University of America. Her long teaching career at St. Jerome and Our Lady of Mercy both in the Bronx, Blessed Sacrament, New Rochelle, NY, St Joseph’s, Middletown, NY, Ursuline Academy, Bethesda, MD, and Ursuline Academy, DE and St Paul’s, Wilmington, DE spanned more than four decades.
Acutely aware of the arrival of Hispanic immigrants to the Archdiocese of New York, Sister Laurence began attending Spanish language classes held at Cardinal Hayes High School to prepare teachers to assist the new immigrants. Recognizing her gift for languages and for her enthusiasm for the work, she was chosen to attend the Catholic University of Puerto Rico in an emersion program over the course of two summers.
These classes and experiences prepared Sister Laurence to reach out to English Language Learners in Florida, NY where she instructed the children of migrant farmers, in Milton DE where she volunteered at Casa San Francisco often acting as an interpreter with patients at Doctors’ visits and at the St Veronica Giuliani Monastery in Wilmington DE where she taught English to cloistered nuns and prepared them to become US citizens. In addition, Sister Laurence was recognized by the State of Delaware for her work in the Family Literacy Program of the Literacy Volunteers of America.
Because of the Covid 19 restrictions there will not be a Wake service or Funeral at the Convent for Sister Laurence.
Donations in Sr.Laurence’s name may be made to the Ursuline Sisters Retirement Fund at the 1338 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804. North Ave address and online.
Lloyd Maxcy and Sons, Beauchamp Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.