Obituary of Sr. Margaret Russell

Sister Margaret Russell, formerly Sister Mary del Ray, age 80 died on April 10, 2020 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, NJ. Known to many as Peggy, she was born in Riverside, NJ to Walter and Josephine Russell and educated at St. Paul School in Burlington and Cathedral High School in Trenton. Inspired by the Sisters of Mercy, Peggy entered the community after graduation. She earned a degree in elementary education and a master's degree in supervision and curriculum at Georgian Court University. Margaret's first assignments were teaching in elementary schools in the dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen: St. Elizabeth in Bernardsville; St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen; St. Catherine, East Keansburg; St. Joseph, Bound Brook and St. Charles Borromeo where she was principal. She served as communications director for the Sisters of Mercy before becoming principal at St. Francis Cabrini School in Piscataway and then at St. Mary School in South Amboy. During those years she was honored several times by the dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen for Excellence in Education. In 2001, she moved to pastoral services becoming director of religious education at St. Luke Parish in Toms River. Her love of children and desire to foster in them a love of Jesus and the Church inspired all her efforts. She shared her gifts generously with those who worked with her and made their efforts enjoyable. After several years in Forked River, she moved to McAuley Health Care Center in 2019. Margaret is survived by her brother Joseph and his wife, Penny, many nieces, nephews and Sisters of Mercy. Funeral Services are Private and a Memorial Mass will take place at a later date. Donations in memory of Sister Peggy can be made to the Sisters of Mercy 1645 Highway 22 Watchung, NJ