Obituary of Margaret Taney

Born: Margaret Mary Taney on February 13, 1928 in Maple Shade, New Jersey. Died: October 4, 2015 in St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, New York. Daughter of James Joseph and Margaret Theresa Flynn Taney of Bellmawr, New Jersey. She was received into the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse on August 15, 1948 and professed her final religious vows on August 16, 1955. For more than 65 years, Sister Margaret devotedly lived the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. Sister Margaret attended the grade schools of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Maple Shade, New Jersey and Christ the King in Haddonfield, New Jersey from 1936 to 1943. She entered high school in 1943 at Cathedral High in Camden, New Jersey, graduating in 1947. During her early education, Sister Margaret had become well-acquainted with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and had grown to love them and their ministry of serving God's people. During her graduation year, she chose to join the Congregation and soon began college courses at St. Elizabeth Teacher's College (now a part of St. Bonaventure University) in Allegany, New York. Over the next 20 years, in between ministry assignments, Sister Margaret was successful at earning her B.S. in Elementary Education. During the summers of 1973 and 1975, she completed Theology Programs at Grace House in Alden, New York and St. Francis Hall in Allegany, New York. Sister went on to teach students in the lower grades in Congregational schools located throughout New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. During those years, Sister Margaret was a steady and gentle presence in the daily lives of her young charges. Toward the end of her active ministry in 1994, she accepted a position as Food Service manager at St. Mary of the Angels Convent in Haddonfield, New Jersey, serving until her retirement in 2002. In 2003, she was warmly welcomed home by her sisters at the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Sister Margaret is predeceased by her parents and five brothers: James, Francis, George, William and Joseph. She is survived by a nephew, James B. Taney and his family of Greensboro, North Carolina. A Wake Service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2015 in the Chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, October 10, 2015 in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, New York. The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, New York.