Sister Mary Oliver Cabana, SSMN, 1928-2019

Fri, Jun 7th 2019 03:30 pm

Sister Mary Oliver Cabana, an educator and parish minister, died May 20, 2019, at St. Mary Center in Buffalo. She was 90 years old.

Born Suzanne Mary Cabana on Dec. 14, 1928, in Buffalo to Oliver and Edwena (Gannon) Cabana, she was educated at St. Mary Seminary and received her bachelor's degree in music education at Rosary Hill College, (now Daemen). Most of her teaching experience was with junior high school students in Kenmore and Lockport, as well as Lowell, Mass. She eventually became principal at Annunciation School in Elma. Then, as ministries in the community changed, Sister Mary Oliver served as religious education coordinator at Good Shepherd Church in Pendleton.

August of 1983 saw Sister launching a new ministry in the United Kingdom. There she served the elderly in Scotland, and joined in parish ministry in Shrewsberg, Liverpool, and Watford, Herts. She also oversaw meal preparations in London and Lowestoft. On occasion, she even planted the vegetables which she would ultimately serve.

In 2006, Sister Mary Oliver returned to the United States where she retired. She spent her last years at St. Mary Center in Buffalo.
Sister is predeceased by her brothers, Oliver, Donald and Richard Cabana.

A funeral Mass was held at St. Mary Center Chapel. Burial took place at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Town of Tonawanda.

Related Articles