Sister Mary Dee Smith, GNSH (formerly Peter Michael)

Written on: January 28, 2021

Sister Mary Dee Smith, GNSH, formerly Sister Peter Michael, 81, died on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 in the 56^th year of her religious life. Sister’s ministry was focused in the areas of education and administration. For 30 years she served in the Archdiocese of Baltimore at Archbishop Keough High School (1975-85), Seton- Keough High School (1985-97) and at Resurrection St. Paul School (1997-2005). At Seton-Keough she was Chair of the Mathematics Department and at Resurrection/St Paul she served as Assistant Principal. Retiring in 2005, she continued to volunteer her services in various ways in Gywnn Oak, MD.

Earlier assignments included Our Lady of the Assumption, Strafford (Jan-Jun 1968); St Norbert, Paoli (1968-69); Melrose Academy, Philadelphia (1972-73); and Mother of Divine Providence, King of Prussia (1975-76), PA. She taught at Christ the King, Atlanta, GA (1969-70) and St. Mary’s, Kodiak, AK (1973-75). College level experience included Sacred Heart Junior College (summer 1969) and D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY (1970-71).

Born October 19, 1939 in Tunkannock, PA to Wesley C and Bernice Harrigan Smith, she attended Visitation elementary school, Little Flower and Kensington High School, graduating from the latter in 1957. She earned a BS/Math/Secondary Education from West Chester State College (1961) and received an MS/Math from Illinois State University (1981). She entered the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in 1965; prior to that she taught at Cardinal Dougherty High School (1961-65).

Publications: Report of research of nationwide study of Geometry in Secondary Schools, 1981, Illinois State U Math Newsletter.

Sister is survived by her brother-in-law Charles and nephew Stephen in addition to her religious congregation. She is predeceased by her parents and sister, Nancy Striffler.

Due to recent events, Sister’s burial will be held privately, and a memorial Mass will be held at a later date. Donations in her memory will be greatly appreciated and may be made through our website donation page, or mailed to the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, 14500 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19116-1188.

Arrangements by Beck-Givnish Funeral Homes.

This entry was posted in In Loving Memory and tagged: administration, Archbishop Keough High School, Archdiocese of Baltimore, Assistant Principal, Buffalo NY, Cardinal Dougherty HS, Christ the King Atlanta, D'Youville College, education, Gywnn Oak MD, Illinois State University, Kensington High School, King of Prussia, Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, Mathematics Chair, Melrose Academy, Mother of Divine Providence, Our Lady of the Assumption, Paoli, Philadelphia, Resurrection St. Paul School, Sacred Heart Junior College, Seton-Keough High School, Sister Mary Dee Smith, Sister Peter Michael, St. Mary Kodiak, St. Norbert, Strafford, Tunkannock, Visitation, volunteer, West Chester State College