Sister M. Bonaventure MacDonald, OSF (1926-2017)

Thu, Sep 28th 2017 09:00 am

Sister M. Bonaventure MacDonald, OSF, died Sept. 24, 2017, at Olean General Hospital. She was 91.

The former Mildred Ann MacDonald was born Feb. 20, 1926, in Malden, Mass., to Elmer and Sarah (Boyd) MacDonald. She joined the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in 1946 and professed final religious vows in 1953.

Sister Bonaventure received a bachelor's degree in education from St. Bonaventure University in 1966, as well as a master's degree in the same field of study from Cortland University in 1971.

She went on to serve at congregational schools in New York state as well as Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi and New Jersey. Sister Bonaventure taught first- through sixth-graders and coordinated parish programs such as religious education, parish choirs and home visitation. In June 2016, she returned to Allegany.

She is survived by a nephew, Edward MacDonald, and her siblings' families.

A funeral Mass was held in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, with burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany.