Age 96
Sister Mary Agnese Neumann, a woman of deep faith and extraordinary talent
fully celebrated God’s gift of life in every way.
As a young student at St. Bernardine Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland, she met the Sisters of Mercy whose spirit ignited the vocation already in her heart. At the age of 18, after attending Mt. Agnes High School, also in Baltimore, she entered the Sisters of Mercy.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Mt. St. Agnes College and a master’s degree in biology from St. Bonaventure University in New York. She taught for 23 years in the Baltimore, Maryland, and Savannah, Georgia dioceses. In 1960, she joined in opening Mercy High School, Baltimore, where she taught Latin, English, religion, and science for 11 years.
Next, she chose to pursue a career in nursing, eventually becoming a nurse practitioner. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland. She co-founded Mountain Laurel Obstetrics and Gynecology in Dahlonega, Georgia, a clinic for women in need in the isolated mountains of northern Georgia. In celebration of Sister Agnese’s healthcare career, Mercy High School established the Sister Agnese Neumann Scholars Program in partnership with MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in 2018. Through this program, Mercy High students can receive hands-on training in a specialized healthcare setting.
Although her teaching career ended, she also volunteered in the Alumnae Office of Mercy High for many years. A gifted musician, she was a staunch advocate for justice, with a keen interest in all that was happening in the Church and in the world.