Sister Marcella Tyson, RSHM, died peacefully at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY, on Friday, October 20, 2023. She was 86 years of age and had been a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 65 years.
She was born Francis Agnes Tyson in the Bronx, NY, on January 7, 1937, to John J. and Mary Frances Finnegan Tyson.
She received a BA in History from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY, and an MA in Early Childhood Education from Queens College, Queens, NY.
She entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary at the RSHM Novitiate in Tarrytown, NY, on September 8, 1956. She made her first vows on June 15, 1958 in Tarrytown, where she later made her final vows on August 25, 1963.
Sister Marcella began her many years of ministry in New York, teaching at Gerard School in Manhattan (1958-1965) and then at St. Pius X School in Rosedale (1965-1980). She taught in Missouri at Good Shepherd School in Ferguson (1980-1989). After that, she returned to New York to teach at St. Andrew’s School in Sag Harbor (1990-1991).
In 1991, Sister Marcella moved to Tarrytown, NY. While living in Tarrytown, she shared her gifts with the retired sisters as a member of the staff of Marymount Convent (1991-2000) and then with the homeless and low-income families as a volunteer at Part of the Solution (POTS), a social agency in the Bronx (2000-2016). In addition to working at Marymount Convent and at POTS, she taught CCD at Transfiguration Parish, Tarrytown, NY.
Sister Marcella had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. She sang in parish choirs and was a cantor. She was a member of choruses, including those at Queens College, the University of Missouri in St. Louis, and the New York Festival Choir. She participated in multiple European tours with these groups.
Sister Marcella joined the Marymount Convent community in 2016 and was living there at the time of her death.
Sister Marcella is predeceased by her parents, her brothers, John and Thomas, and her sister, Mary. She is survived by her brother, Father Michael Tyson, OFM, nieces and nephews, and by the members of her religious family.
Services will be held at Marymount Convent, 32 Warren Avenue, Tarrytown, NY. Visiting is on Wednesday, October 25, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm with the Vigil Service at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial is slated for Thursday, October 26, at 10:30 am. Burial is at Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains.
We invite you to join us in-person for the Vigil Service and Mass at Marymount Convent or by live-stream on our website (www.rshm-east.org), where it will be archived.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in her name may be made to Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, NY, 10591.
I remember Sister Marcella teaching us songs when I attended summer camp at Cormaria as a young girl. She taught us songs, as we sat outside on the patch of grass between the house and the dock overlooking the bay. I remember her always having her guitar with her. She was fun, and we all loved her. Very sad to hear of her recent passing. I will pray for her and offer up a rosary for her.
Rest in Peace Sister Marcella.
With love,
Maria McCabe (ne: Avila)
Sr. Marcella was a wonderful religious – and made God known by her life.
I came to know Sr. Marcella in Rosedale and she always encouraged me to become a priest- she by her love helped me to eventually go to the seminary and become a priest in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Sr. Marcella, may you rest in our all loving God’s arms.
Know I pray to you daily
Sincerely in Christ,
Vinny