O'Dea, Sr. Margaret Rose

An oral history of Sister Margaret Rose O'Dea, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1937 until 1999. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on November 3, 1987.

Sister Margaret Rose O’Dea was born on August 28, 1917 in Duquesne, Pa. Daughter of William O’Dea and Julia Walsh, Mary Margaret O’Dea entered the community on September 8, 1937 as Sister Margaret Rose O’Dea.

Sister Margaret Rose worked jobs as a cashier and a clerk for a year and a half before entering the community. She served most of her ministry as a teacher and tutor at primary schools throughout the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Altoona-Johnstown, and Phoenix, and the Archdiocese of Washington. The schools she worked at include Resurrection, Brookline; St. John and Holy Cross, South Side; SS. Simon & Jude, Blairsville; Our Lady of Grace, Johnstown; St. Stephen; Holy Innocents, Sheraden; St. James, Apollo; St. John, Scottdale, Az.; St. John, South Side; St. Teresa, Munhall; St. Catherine; St. John the Baptist, Pittsburgh; St. Kieran; Sacred Heart, Pittsburgh; St. Jane de Chantal, Bethesda, Md.; and St. James, Wilkinsburg. She also volunteered at St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality from 1983 to 1989, after which she retired.

Sister Margaret Rose earned her B.Ed. in Education from Duquesne University in 1956. As a teacher, she enjoyed having her children perform in plays.

Sister Margaret Rose O’Dea passed away on January 25, 1999 at the age of 81.