Obituary of Sister Susan McGillicuddy

Born: Susan McGillicuddy on September 17, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pa. Died: May 26, 2014 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Tampa, FL. Daughter of Cornelius and Susan Sheppard McGillicuddy of Fort Myers, FL. She was received into the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse on September 3, 1957 and professed her final religious vows on August 16, 1965. Sister Susan attended grade school at Mater Misericordiae and Melrose Academy in Philadelphia, and at St. Francis Xavier in Fort Myers. She attended high school at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach, FL, graduating in 1957. After joining the Congregation, she attended St. Elizabeth Teacher's College (now part of St. Bonaventure University) in Allegany, NY, where she earned her B.S. in Education. Sr. Susan pursued graduate studies at Sacred Heart College in Belmont, N.C., and St. Thomas University in Miami Beach, FL, where she earned her M.A. in Pastoral Ministries in 1988. Sister Susan taught elementary education for many years in Congregational schools throughout Florida and Massachusetts. In 1981, she began ministering as a Pastoral Associate at St. Francis Hospital in Miami. Sr. Susan would spend the remainder of her ministry in hospitals around Florida, serving as the Director of the Pastoral Care Department at St. Francis Hospital; as the Vice President for Mission Integration at St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, FL; and most recently serving in pastoral care and Eucharistic ministry at St. Anthony's Hospital. In February 2014, Sr. Susan was awarded the Helen D. Roberts Philanthropy Award by the St. Anthony's Hospital Foundation for her generosity in giving of her time and talents to the hospital. Sister Susan was predeceased by her parents; and a brother, Michael McGillicuddy. She is survived by four brothers, Cornelius (Priscilla) McGillicuddy (former U.S. Senator Connie Mack III), Dennis (Graci) McGillicuddy, John (Frances) Sheppard McGillicuddy, and Andrew McGillicuddy; and two sisters, Mary McGillicuddy and Lucille Elizabeth McGillicuddy. A Wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2014, in the Chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014 in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, New York. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Anthony Hospital Foundation, 1200 7th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33705, or to the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, 115 East Main St., Allegany, NY, 14706.