Sister Andrew Murcia, RSHM, died peacefully at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY, on Monday, January 13, 2024. She was 96 and had been a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 71 years.
She was born Balbina Murcia Monroy in Maripi, Colombia on February 24, 1928, to Pablo Murcia and Sara Monroy.
She came to know the RSHM in her native Colombia. She entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary at the RSHM Novitiate in Tarrytown, NY, on August 29, 1951, and made her first profession of vows on April 5, 1953, in Butler Memorial Chapel, Marymount, Tarrytown. She made her final vows on August 26, 1958, in the chapel of the RSHM Mother House in Beziers, France.
After making her first vows, Sister Andrew remained in Tarrytown at Marymount Secondary School (1953-1955). Her next assignments took her to Europe to Marymount International School, Kingston-on Thames, England (1955-1966), Marymount School, Barcelona, Spain (1966-1968), Marymount International School, Rome, Italy (1968-1971), and Istituto Marymount, Rome, Italy (1971-1976). In each of these assignments, she assisted the RSHM, school staff, boarding, and day students.
She returned to the United States in 1976 and became a member of the staff of Cormaria Retreat House in Sag Harbor, New York. Cormaria describes itself as a place of gracious hospitality and for 38 years offering gracious hospitality was Sister Andrew’s ministry (1976-2014).
She moved to Marymount Convent, Tarrytown in 2014 and was a member of the convent community at the time of her death.
Sister Andrew is survived by her sister Odilia Murcia, her nieces, and the members of her religious family.
Services are at Marymount Convent, 32 Warren Avenue, Tarrytown, NY. Visiting is on Wednesday, January 15, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm with the Vigil Service scheduled at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial is on Thursday, January 16, at 10:30 am. Burial is at Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains.
We invite you to join us for the Vigil Service and Mass at Marymount Convent or by live stream on our website (www.rshm-east.org), where they 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.