Sister Maria Goretti (Anna Marie Hudak), 88, of Danville, passed away on Feb. 16, 2018.

 

She was born Dec. 15, 1929, in Hazleton, a daughter of John and Anna (Jancar (Johnson) Hudak.

She attended St. Joseph School and graduated from Hazleton Senior High School. Before entering the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Anna Marie worked in the office of the Plain Speaker-Standard Sentinel as a stenographer-bookkeeper.

After entering the congregation in Danville on Feb. 2, 1950, she was received as a novice on Aug. 10, 1950, and professed her vows on Aug. 13, 1952.

Sister pursued higher education and received a B. S. in Business Administration from Marywood University, Scranton, an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and an M.Div. from the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, New Jersey.

Sister began her teaching ministry in the fourth grade at Holy Trinity School, Perth Amboy, N.J. Later she taught at St. Cyril Academy, Danville, and also worked in the school office. Sister also taught novices and directed aspirants, young women seeking to discern a religious vocation. In two local parishes she served as director of religious education programs. Later she became Director of Associates, women who participated in promoting and assisting in the ministries of the Sisters.

After teaching in the business department at Andrean High School, Merrillville, Ind., for ten years and serving on Diocesan Committees, notably as president of the Pastoral Council of the Diocese of Gary, Sister Maria Goretti assumed the position of Pastoral Assistant at St. Catherine Laboure parish, Harrisburg. Here she served the diocese in a variety of leadership roles, very often as president, notably of the Sisters' Council Liturgy Committee, Evangelization Committee, Ecumenical Committee and the Vocation Committee.

In 1988, Sister Maria Goretti became a member of the congregation's Leadership team, a post she held until 1996.

From 1996 until 2009, Sister was the force behind the growth of the Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community, acting in various capacities, as treasurer, development director, and associate director at the various facilities, Maria Joseph Manor, Emmanuel and the Meadows.

Besides her ministry in her religious congregation, Sister Maria Goretti was well known for her outreach to charitable and religious organizations in the Danville area. She was a pastoral visitor at the Danville State Hospital and served as President of the Danville-Riverside Ministerium Association (DRAMA) and Treasurer of the Danville-Riverside Area Christian Ministerium and the Good Samaritan fund. Sister also served on the board of the Danville Chapter of the American Red Cross and was a member of the Geisinger Medical Pastoral Care Advisory Committee.

Sister Maria Goretti is survived by several nieces and nephews.

The transferal rite will take place at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday followed by the recitation of the Rosary in the Maria Hall Chapel. The Wake service will be at 11 a.m. followed by dinner. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel at Maria Hall.
Burial will be in the Sisters' cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brady Funeral Home, Inc. in Danville.
Please share online condolences at BradyFuneralHome.com.