Sister Margaret (John Marie) Suerth, O.S.B., 82, of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 at the Monastery.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Chapel at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island.  Burial is at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Monastery, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7:00 p.m.  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan is in charge of arrangements. 

Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery, 2200 88th Ave. W., Rock Island, IL  61201.

Margaret Suerth was born Nov. 21, 1932 in Chicago, a daughter of John and Eleanor McCabe Suerth.  She attended St. Genevieve School, Chicago and graduated from Providence High School, Chicago.  She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Scholastica College, Duluth, Minn., and a Masters of Art degree from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.

Sister Margaret entered the Benedictine community in August, 1950 and made her final profession as a Benedictine sister on August 25, 1955.  Her ministry included teaching at St. Mary’s School, Moline, St. Roch’s School, LaSalle, Ill., Ladd Catechetical Center, Ladd, Ill., St. Mary’s School, Wenona, Ill., Holy Family, Peoria, Ill.,  St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Ill., Alleman High School, Rock Island, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Bergan High School, Peoria, and Illinois Valley Community College, Spring Valley, Ill.

She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters; sister-in-law, Marilyn Suerth; and nieces.  She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John, Charles and James; and sister, Eleanor.

Stories of Sr. Peggy’s ministry include her founding of a homeless shelter in LaSalle/Peru, Illinois, and her work at a local food pantry. Read Sister Sandra’s reflection on Sr. Peggy’s life.