Sister Jane Marie (Mary) Otterson

Sister Jane Marie (Mary) Otterson, age 93, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on April 29, 2019.  She was born on April 27, 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   Sister Jane Marie was one of six children born to Daniel and Jane (Convery) Otterson.  

Sister Jane Marie joined the Daughters of Charity on August 2, 1947 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. After a period of initial formation, she was sent on her first mission to Our Lady of Victory School in Portsmouth, Virginia (1948-1955).  From 1955-1959 she served as a group worker at St. Joseph Villa in Richmond, Virginia.  The next several years Sister Jane Marie was an elementary teacher in several schools:  Miraculous Medal School in Greensboro, North Carolina (1959-1961); St. John’s School in Albany, New York (1961-1964); Sacred Heart School in Norfolk, Virginia (1964-1967); St. Pius X School in Greensboro, North Carolina (1967-1971); Queen of Peace School in Washington, D.C. (1971-1975); and Mother Seton School as a teacher (1975-1976) and as a librarian (1976-1982).  Following this, Sister Jane Marie went to Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. to serve as a Patient Visitor and to work in Medical Records (1982-1984).  Her next several assignments were in various parishes:    St. Martin Parish, Baltimore, Maryland (1984-1986); St. Michael Parish, Baltimore (1986-1990); St. Matthew Mission, Spotsylvania, Virginia (1990-1998); Our Lady of the Valley, Gloverville, South Carolina (1998-2002) and St. Benedict Parish, Baltimore (2002-2003).  From 2004-2005 Sister Jane Marie was Administrative Assistant at My Brother’s Keeper Soup Kitchen in Baltimore.  In 2005 she volunteered in St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore.  Sister Jane Marie returned to Emmitsburg in 2008 to serve at St. Catherine Nursing Center. In 2013 she was missioned to St. Michael Villa, Emmitsburg where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.   

Sister Jane Marie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg in 1968 with a major in Elementary Education.  She earned a Master’s in Library Science from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. in 1980.     

Sister Jane Marie was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Dan, Harry, and Patrick and her sisters Alice Mullen and Jane McCarthy.  She is survived by her niece Rosanna McCarthy, other nieces and nephews, friends, and her Sisters in Community.   

A wake service will be held on Friday, May 3 at 7:00 pm in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, May 4 at 11:00 am in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, followed by burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Jane Marie’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri  63108.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Emmitsburg, MD.