Sister Margaret Crowley (Nora Francis), 85, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield died at Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham on May 16, 2020. A native of Springfield, Mass., she was the daughter of Francis and Nora (Buckley) Crowley.
Sister Margaret entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from Holy Family Parish, Springfield in 1959. She graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield. Sister earned a B.A. degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee and an M.A. in English from Westfield State College.
Sister began her teaching ministry at St. Mary’s in Southbridge before serving in many schools in the Springfield Diocese. She taught at Sacred Heart in Holyoke; St. Agnes in Dalton and St. Thomas the Apostle in West Springfield; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Hope, and Cathedral High School, all in Springfield; St. Matthew’s in Indian Orchard and Mount Carmel in Chicopee. Sister also served as a tutor at Holy Name in Chicopee.
In addition to her Sisters in community, Sister Margaret leaves to cherish her memory her brothers Francis (Myrna) and Edmund, her sister Mary Ellen Colton (Fred), her sister-in-law Marjorie, several generations of loving nieces and nephews and her dear friend Connie Cawley SSJ. Sister Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her brother James and her nephew Edward.
A graveside service and private burial will take place in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Springfield. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.