Obituary of Sr. Margaret Rose Gilmore, OSF

Born:  Rose Margaret Gilmore on April 20, 1927 in New York City, NY.

Died:  August 26, 2019 in Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY.

Daughter of:  James and Margaret Rowan Gilmore

Sr. Margaret Rose entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on August 22, 1947, was received into the congregation on August 15, 1948 and professed her final vows on August 16, 1955.  Committed to the Franciscan charism, Sister lived for over 70 years as a devoted member of the Allegany Franciscan Sisters sharing her life in community and ministry.

Margaret Rose attended public elementary and middle schools in Queens, NY and graduated from Newton High School, in Elmhurst NY.  She began her studies at Hunter College in New York, NY and graduated from St. Bonaventure University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in General Sciences with a Minor in Philosophy.

Postgraduate studies included time at the Marianist Language Institute at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD, and Sienna College, Loudonville, NY.  Sr. Margaret Rose earned a Certificate in Spanish from the University of Madrid, Spain and a Master’s of Science in Spanish from Fordham University, New York, NY.

Sr. Margaret Rose was an elementary, middle and high school teacher and principal in Catholic schools in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Virginia from 1947-1972, including Archbishop Walsh High School in Olean, NY.  She served as a resource librarian at St. John the Baptist High School, West Islip, NY, from 1973-1988.  In 1998, Margaret Rose moved home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY, working part-time in the library.  In 2009, she officially retired, but kept busy assisting in the library when needed.

She is predeceased by her parents, James and Margaret, brothers Patrick, James, John and Owen; sisters Jane Argue and Kathleen Rush.  She is survived by three (3) sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

A wake service is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3 at 6:30 PM in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 9:30 AM in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.  Burial will follow in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home.