SISTER MARGARET MARY SHORTEN

April 4, 1934 - September 5, 2017

Sister Margaret Mary Shorten, 83, formerly Sister Jean Mary, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth died Tuesday, September 05, 2017 at Brother Bonaventure Extended Care and Rehabilitation Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Sister Margaret Mary was born on April 4, 1934 in Rockaway Park, L.I., New York, the daughter of John and Mary Agnes (Connelly) Shorten. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey where Margaret grew up and was educated by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. On September 6, 1953, she entered the Sisters of Charity and was a member for 64 years. Sister Margaret Mary was a serious student and an avid learner. She graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School, Jersey City, NJ, Saint Bridget Commercial, Jersey City, NJ and Saint Vincent Preparatory School, Convent Station, NJ. She continued her education and graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ with a B.A. degree in English and from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ with an M.A. degree in English. With a passion for education, she began her teaching career in 1956 at Saint Michael Elementary School, Jersey City then went on to serve as a high school teacher at St. Michael High School, Jersey City; Immaculate Conception High School, Montclair; Saint Aloysius High School, Jersey City; Saint Cecilia High School, Kearny and the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Hoboken. From 1963-1970 Sister Margaret Mary served as missionary and educator at Saints Peter and Paul High School, Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. Upon completion of Sister Margaret Mary's fulltime teaching responsibilities she served as Staff Member and Volunteer at Caritas Academy, Jersey City; and most recently as office volunteer at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ. Sister Margaret was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Elizabeth Marcinkowski. She is survived by the Sisters of Charity, her niece, nephews, cousins and grandnieces and grandnephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961-0476 would be greatly appreciated.