I woke up with Mary on my mind this morning and after not getting her on the phone, I googled her name. I am so sad to learn of Mary’s passing and regret I did not know earlier. Mary and I team taught together for Broward County Schools and we enjoyed each other’s company and learning from each other. She taught me the biggest lesson of my life, that “you create your own reality”. Thank you Mary, I will always remember your wonderful, kind and wise ways. You always lit up a room. I’m a better person for having known you. Rest In Peace dear friend. 

Held my hand as I cried my eyes out over Jack. Her sweet " ok" let me know that maybe things would be ok after a while. She called at least once a week to make sure I was ok. Saved me a seat next to her in church and held my hand tightly all through services. Visited Jack and made him smile. When Jack died she made sure I knew she was always available to listen and that she loved me dearly. I am very sure that Jack was with her as she died holding her hand just like she held mine so many times. I am also sure that he walked her home.

For over a year, I would tell Mary that the little red "Unity Uber" would be at her apartment to pick her up for our drive to prayer circle with Rev. Taylor. We would swap stories, debate and ponder, play a bit of verbal volley-ball, (where I learned she was ever quick with a quip), but mostly laugh - a lot.
What fun we had! Those weekly roundtrips became treasured time for me. So many meaningful Mary moments. (and there was not one occasion where she failed to say, "You know, Taylor is like the son I never had.")

Precious Mother Mary was an angel to so many. She had a profound effect on countless lives. She spread love and light and positivity to everyone she encountered. Her constant comment to me was "We are so blessed." But, Mary, each of us was blessed by having you in our world. Your beautiful song will live on through all the lives you have touched.

If I had only known the last time I dropped her off that it would be the last time - I would have hugged her longer!

I will miss you, Mary.

Mary was the typical "bridge over troubled waters" with her quick understanding and helpful solutions to conflict. She was a thoughtful, helpful person in a building with sixty different answers to problems. Her understanding and quiet resolutions will be missed. Her light humor always took the "edge" off differences in opinion.

I first knew Mary when she used to come to the County Home, where I worked, with Taylor and other people from the Center for Living, to visit the residents and bring snacks. Because they brought big blocks of cheese, they were known as "The Cheese People". Mary was very loved by everyone. Then when Taylor became our minister at Unity of the Palm Beaches, I got to know Mary again. She was always such a happy, shining light. We volunteered together for Unity at the CROS Ministries Food Pantry on Tamarind Ave in West Palm Beach. Mary gave herself the job of Greeter and she would sit in the waiting room with all the people and talk to them and love them all. If there was a day she had to miss, everyone would be asking "Where's Mary?" I know they will be upset when we finally reopen and she's not physically with us, though I know she will be watching over us all. Mary's favorite saying if you tried to talk her into something she didn't want to do, was "No is a complete sentence." The condo complex that she lived in is named Paradise Harbour and when Mary would leave to go home she'd always say "I'm going home to Paradise!". And now she truly is in Paradise, and I can see her laughing and greeting her loved ones. And when it's my time to go, I hope she's one of the first to greet me and show me the ropes! Love you, Mary!

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, WAY UP HIGH, WE WILL SEE MARY,OFTEN.
SHE WAS AND STILL IS MY DEAREST FRIEND, WE LIVED TOGETHER AT ROSARIAN ACADEMY, I TAUGHT AT ST. ANNE'S, THEN LATER WE LIVED TOGETHER AND TAUGHT FOR TWO YEARS AT CARDINAL NEWMAN HS, WE EVEN RAN THE BOOK STORE TOGETHER..EVERYONE LOVED MARY AND SHE LOVED US BACK. WE WERE TOGETHER FOR OVER FORTY YEARS IN MANY PLACES, NY, ADRIAN, VIRGINIA, WPBEACH, ETC. SOMEWHERE IN THESE TRIBUTES I WROTE ANOTHER TRIBUTE TO MARY AND HER FAMILY AND DEAR FRIENDS, Can't find it!!!! Any way my deepest love and support and my husband Joe's too go to MC and her family and dear students and friends. Her best buddy, Taylor said it so beautifully. "Everyone needs a Mary!!" HERE IS A GOODY"What made us friends in the long ago when First we met? Well I think I know;The best in me and the best in you hailed each other because they knew , that always and always since life began, OUR BEING FRIENDS WAS PART OF GOD'S PLAN"
                                   George Webster Douglas

Sister George Elizabeth, Mary Catherine, changed my life. I stood in her office at Rosarian Academy, when I was 15 years old, and she said, "God has sent you here." Yes. And last year, I told her that she did change my life. She was powerful, and terrifying at times, and I loved her. Rest In Peace. And, thank you.

Rosarian Academy. 55 years ago, my bed in the dormitory was positioned across from Mary Catherine’s bedroom (for obvious reasons). Sick, with a hacking cough one night, she was disturbing my sleep. So I charged unannounced into her room with tissues, cough syrup, lozenges and the stuffed animal off my bed- a white Westie complete with plaid tam & matching jacket- for comfort. No Florence Nightingale, I said “Here- take these!” and exited. I’m not sure which of us was more startled at the breach of etiquette and protocol, but she continued to tell that story at every opportunity when introducing me to someone. I reciprocated by introducing her as my former teacher; a nun who left the convent to marry a man she met in prison. As she told me a few years ago, “I have done it ALL!” Indeed, you have. I miss you so much.

reading all these about Sr. George Elizabeth - Mary....recognizing many of you- Taylor Steven's tribute so expressive-thanks to you all and to the very person this centers on. What a gal. Taught with her at Rosarian, knew of her from my brothers who had her as a math teacher, and then later in contemplative prayer group-there she was with Taylor. People who uplift us - may we all, once this Covid is over, experience more of love and uplifting. No longer with Mary in person, but she will still uplift us in even a more special way-her spirit with that face-that is what I will remember. What a sense of humor. God is enjoying her even more now.

So there I am in first year of seminary at Unity Village in 1998 and I get a letter from someone named Mary C. Ownby. It is gushing with enthusiasm, love and support for me going to seminary. It was the best letter ever.  Only problem, I had no idea who Mary C. Ownby was. Fortunately she had included her phone number in the letter so I called her.

"I'm GE, John....Sr. George Elizabeth!!" She told me how, after she taught me - no tried to teach me - algebra at Cardinal Newman, she had gone to Rosarian Academy. And then some time left the Dominican Order and started attending Unity!!  Rev. Taylor Stephens was her best bud she told me. Coincidence of coincidences, Taylor was a one time partner to my former mentor and best friend Rev. Richard Barnes, RIP. 

And thus began a loving and wonderful friendship. You might appreciate this, Dennis and family members, in one of our chats I confessed to her that, I, along with most of the guys in our class, had a crush on her... for even in nun's habit she was amazingly attractive. And I asked her, "Mary, I always assumed you were like 7 or 8 years older than us...so you would have been like 24 when you taught me in 1964?"  She got a big kick out of all of that and amazed me by saying she'd been in her mid 30's then!!  Good genes,good living, and a lot of love in her heart, just shone through.

I'm sorry I didn't reach out to you more often Mary..... I will now.  Please help us. Thank you my dear.

And Mary, I know you know this from The Traveler, by James Freeman
She has put on invisibility.
Dear Lord, I cannot see 
But this I know, although the road ascends
And passes from my sight;
That there will be no night;
That you will take her gently by the hand
And lead her on
Along the road of life that never ends,
And she will find it is not death but dawn.
I do not doubt that You are there as here,
And you will hold her dear.

Mary, “Sister George Elizabeth”. was a truly special individual Who was treasured by her students. It was also very enjoyable to engage in conversations with her on the phone or in person as we went on with our lives after graduating from Cardinal Newman. Rest In Peace.

Sister George Elizabeth taught me who Pythagoras was, taught me how to do time/distance problems, and taught me that solving for 'x' will drive your decisions. She taught all of us that--and more. We passed that to our children, our grandchildren, and on, and on.....she touched countless lives.
JG CNHS '63

I was a boarder at Rosarian Academy for 5 years graduating in 1965. I remember Sister George Elizabeth patiently trying to teach me algebra and geometry. I totally had a mental block when it came to math but she was persistent in her endeavors to knock some sense into my pea brain! She did it with grace and an encouraging smile!
RIP Sister..

Sister George Elizabeth was a memorable positive influence on many young lives, including so many of my life-long Crusader teammates, classmates and friends. In her secular life, she stayed in touch with many former students. She attended our celebratory events at the 50th Anniversary of CNHS's opening and she was a speaker at the Memorial that we held in WPB for Terry Dee at St. Ann's. It was a true pleasure, delight and honor to have learned from and known her. She was a free spirit who's even more free now. RIP, Mary Catherine.

Mary lived with us at Paradise Harbour in North Palm Beach, she was our Mother, sister, friend, and psychiatrist. We can't let her go just now so we had to write one more letter to her. Dear Mary, who can say for certain maybe your'e still here. We feel you all around us ..your memory so clear. Can it be you are ours forever and watching over us from above. As our hearts hold you just one beat away....we cherish all you gave us..because you are ours forever. With great love, your Paradise Harbour family

Mary (Sister George) was truly a one of a kind educator! She always seemed to be smiling and obviously was born to be an educator. She taught my sister at St Anne’s HS and my brother and I at Cardinal Newman. I was privileged to speak to her again during my class reunion (class of 67). My God bless Mary and May she rest in heavenly peace.

I am a 1967 graduate of CNHS. When I was in 10th grade, I had Sr. George for homeroom, algebra, biology, and geometry. She had a profound influence on me. She was young, energetic, a great teacher who knew how to give constructive criticism while not tearing people down. It's hard to believe she was 18 years older than our class. She seemed much younger.
She came to our 50th reunion, and we were all so pleased to see her. We hoped she would be able to attend our quarterly get-togethers, but that was not to be. The world is not the same without her.

I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Mary Catherine when she returned to Rosarian to help us out when one of our math teachers left during that year. She subbed for us for awhile and I joked with her at each visit about coming back again to sub. She always greeted me with that sweet smile and a laugh, her way of saying maybe not.

She deserves the peace and joy she gave to those who knew her. I will always be grateful for having known her.

My love to her family, Sherri Jones

I was a student at St Ann HS in. West Palm Beach FL. I was blessed to know Sr George Elizabeth as an algabra teacher. She made it easy to understand and was always available with a smile when you needed help with a problem. It was my pleasure to meet her again many years later when she attended one of our class of '61 get togethers. My prayers are with her family.

May the comfort of God’s love and those who care for you bring the peace that passes all understanding.  Rick and Cathy