Age 99
Sister Mary Evangelista Strohmier passed away peacefully at the Sisters Residence in Dallas, Pennsylvania. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, she graduated from Cresson High School and received degrees from Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania, and Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Evangelista entered the Sisters of Mercy in Dallas, Pennsylvania in 1948 and professed her final vows in 1951.
She served as a teacher and principal in the Altoona-Johnstown and Pittsburgh Dioceses for 29 years. She taught elementary and high school. Following her teaching years, she entered the religious education ministry. She assisted in combining the five parishes in Windber into one religious education program. In 1980 the pastors of the five parishes in Windber met with the Windber Public School officials and the release time religious education program came into existence. Sister Evangelista was named director of the program and served in that position for 24 years. After leaving the religious education program in Windber, she continued to serve as a volunteer religious educator teacher at Holy Name Parish in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. In 1992, Evangelista received the Prince Gallitzin Cross Award in recognition of her service.
In all her years of ministering to God’s people, Evangelista, was known as highly professional and deeply compassionate. She responded with a generous heart to those in need. Evangelista never “retired.” She brought her wisdom and spirituality to the people with whom she lived at Greystone Court, Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. She loved the people, and she was loved in return. After her years of ministry in the Altoona-Johnstown area, Evangelista moved to the Sisters Residence in Dallas, Pennsylvania, in 2024 to continue her services through the ministry of prayer and share life with her dear Sisters in Mercy.