July 5, 2023

OBITUARY: Sister Rita McCauley, SSJ

REGIONAL

FRAMINIGHAM, Mass. – Sister of St. Joseph Rita McCauley (formerly Sister Rose Peter), 94, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Bethany Health Care Center on June 29. She was born in Pittsfield and was the daughter of James P. and Johanna (Sitzman) McCauley.

She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Mary Parish, Pittsfield in 1949. She graduated from St. Joseph Central High School, Pittsfield. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee.

She taught in schools of the Springfield and Worcester, Mass., dioceses, including Blessed Sacrament School in Holyoke and St. Ann School, Worcester. For several years she served on the staff of Mont Marie Infirmary before becoming a pastoral minister at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Holyoke and St. Charles Parish in Pittsfield. She then returned to Mont Marie where she served as pastoral minister. She retired in 2002.

In addition to her sisters in community, she is survived by a sister, Judith McCauley Anderson, and brother, Dennis McCauley. She also leaves several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She is predeceased by a sister, Mary McHugh, and brothers, James McCauley, Edward McCauley, William McCauley, Charles McCauley and Patrick McCauley.

All services will take place Friday, July 7, in Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton St., Holyoke. She will be waked at 9 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church with a prayer service at 9:30 a.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. The burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery, Holyoke.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.