By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
PITTSBURGH | A funeral Mass will be celebrated today, Oct. 12, at the Convent of Mercy here for Sister Georgetta Haley, a Pittsburgh Sister of Mercy who died Oct. 9 at age 98. She had been a religious for 70 years and worked at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale from 1971 to 2009.
Sister Georgetta Haley, Pittsburg Sisters of Mercy: Born 1918; entered religious life 1946; died Oct. 9, 2016.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1946 and made final vows in 1952. After receiving a degree in education from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University), she taught at Catholic schools in Pittsburgh and Bridgeville, Pa., before moving into the business office at Mercy Hospital in 1952.
She worked as director of the business office until 1971, when she moved to Fort Lauderdale to minister at Holy Cross Hospital. There she held various positions in the business office before working as a medical librarian until her retirement in 2005. She continued as a volunteer until 2009. She served on the Holy Cross Hospital Board of Trustees from 1990-1996.
In 2000, Sister Georgetta was named by Pope John Paul II to receive the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Papal Cross, which was presented to her by Archbishop John C. Favalora at St. Mary Cathedral in Miami. This honor was given in recognition of the outstanding witness to her Catholic faith, as well as the long-standing works of the Sisters of Mercy in the Archdiocese of Miami.
Those who knew her and worked with her remembered Sister Georgetta as a woman of deep faith who hallowed each moment by giving herself totally to others. While working in various positions, she encouraged her employees to be top notch in their work. Whenever Sister was asked for help, she would do so willingly.
Reflecting recently on her life, Sister Georgetta said, “It has been 70 wonderful years with good health and living among a great group of Sisters of Mercy who knew how to teach people to teach others.”
Sister Georgetta is survived by a nephew, Richard (Barbara) Daley, several great nieces and nephews, and a few cousins. She was buried in St. Xavier Cemetery, Latrobe. Donations in her name may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 3333 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213 or Carlow University Scholarship Fund.
