Sister Madeline Pucella 95, a Sister of the Cross and Passion, died peacefully on May 29 at St. Elizabeth’s Home in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Also known as Sister Mary Francis, she was born at home in Peace Dale, Rhode Island, on April 15, 1928.The daughter of the late Luke and Henrietta (Caldamone) Pucella. She entered the Passionist Community in 1945 and professed her final vows in 1951.
Primarily an educator with a master’s in education, Sister Madeline Pucella, CP, taught in several schools the Community staffed, including Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Maryland. Sister especially enjoyed teaching ESL at the Genesis School in Providence, Rhode Island, and the three years she spent with the Oglala Sioux Indian Children at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Additionally, Sister ministered at Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center in Connecticut and to the residents at Indian Run Village in Wakefield, RI, where she lived for many years.
Sister is survived by her sister, Carolyn Brown, her nieces Jennifer Gray, Carol Moore, and Amy Davis, and her nephew, James Champion. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her brother, Daniel, sister, Marie Champion, and niece, Dagmar Pignatore.
Sister Madeline was a quiet, prayerful person whose devotion to the Lord’s Passion and her love of St. Therese helped form her into the compassionate and loving person she was, full of concern for everyone she met.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 2, in the church one hour before the funeral Mass at St. Francis Church, 114 High St, Wakefield, RI, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Burial will take place at St. Francis Cemetery in Peace Dale. In place of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of the Cross and Passion Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 17372, Smithfield, R.I. 02917.
Date of Death
May 29, 2023
Visitation
June 2, 2023
Visitation will be held in the church one hour preceding the Funeral Mass (10 am -11 am) at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 114 High Street, Wakefield, RI.
Funeral
June 2, 2023
St. Francis of Assisi Church, 114 High Street, Wakefield, RI.
Livestream: http://www.youtube.com/stfranciswakefield
Burial
March 30, 2023
St. Francis Cemetery
Peacedale, RI
Instead of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of the Cross and Passion Retirement Fund.
P.O. Box 17372, Smithfield, R.I. 02917.
For guest book condolences, averystortifuneralhome.com