CUMBERLAND — Sister Christine M. Crowley, RSM, 89, a Sister of Mercy for 71 years, died on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Mount Saint Rita Health Center, Cumberland.
She was the daughter of the late George R. and Alice (Smith) Crowley and the sister of the late Mary L. Durkin, Catherine Norton, Margaret H. Muir, Alice T. Green, George R., Jr., Joseph H. and Daniel F. Crowley. Sister Crowley is survived by her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She will be missed by many, especially her dear friend, Mercy Associate Ann Marie Sloan, with whom she lived for more than forty years.
Sister Crowley taught in many diocesan schools in Rhode Island for up to thirty-five years; served as Principal in Tyler School in South Providence, and in Belize at Holy Redeemer Boys School. In her later years, she volunteered at Mt. St. Rita Health Centre.
Her years in the classroom were recognized by a teaching award presented to her in 1998. As stated in the award, “her fierce determination for all her students to succeed has turned many young lives around and has enabled many young women and men to realize they can indeed succeed.” Their lives are a fitting tribute to her living out of the motto of her religious life, “To live by love”.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, March 28, in St. John Vianney Church, Cumberland, with interment at Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sister’s memory to the Sisters of Mercy, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI 02864 will be appreciated.
