Sister Marguerite Montalto, RSM

Sister Marguerite Montalto, RSM, 97, (formerly Sister Mary Samuel) a Sister of Mercy for
71 years died Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Mount St. Rita Health Centre in
Cumberland, Rhode Island. Marguerite was the daughter of the late Cosimo and Carmela
(Salinbeni) Montalto. She is preceded in death by her brother Samuel and sisters
Beatrice Molin, Charlotte Holiday, Eleanor Lopes, and Ruth Simonelli. She is
survived by her nephew David E. Simonelli of North Carolina, niece Gayla Jackson
of Massachusetts and nephews Steven and Chris Montalto of Westerly, Rhode
Island.
She grew up in Westerly, Rhode Island and was active in Immaculate Conception
parish with her family. After high school she worked before entering the Sisters
of Mercy in Cumberland, Rhode Island in September, 1951. After completing her
novitiate and education she began her ministry as a teacher in grades one
through eight. She served in a number of schools in the Diocese of Providence
including St. Matthew, St. Peter and Paul, and St. Brendan.
In 1988 she began teaching at Holy Ghost School in Providence. She was very
active in the parish and had a group who attended Mass together on Saturday
mornings and then met to share their religious understandings. She was a great
storyteller, and she was able to listen to others and offer help to them. As a
school teacher she was known for the beauty of her classroom; she was a skilled
decorator and the rooms she created both taught and motivated students. When
she left elementary school, she used this talent at Federal Hill House Learning
Center where as a volunteer she decorated all the meeting rooms. She was a
painter and taught painting at Federal Hill House to children and adults.
While at Federal Hill House, Marguerite reached out to homeless women helping
them to find shelter, clothing and food. She was often seen bringing meals to
those in need. Her service was rooted in her deep spirituality. She prayed
constantly for those who were dying. She offered solace to people as they
prepared for death. She constantly lived her motto: “All for Jesus through Mary “
as she prayed to Mary to bring people to her son.

Her final part of her life’s journey was spent at Mount St. Rita Health Centre
where she continued to bring her gifts to those around her. Her own
peacefulness with death as a natural part of life made her final time a peaceful
one as Mary would bring her to Jesus as she had so often asked her to do for
others.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February
18, 2023 at St. Aidan-St. Patrick Church, 1460 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI.
Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. with a Mercy Prayer Service at 10:15 a.m. Interment
will be in Resurrection Cemetery, 261 W. Wrentham Road, Cumberland, RI.
In place of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 15
Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI, 02864. www.sistersofmercy.org
Information and condolences please visit: www.galloglyfuneralhome.com

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