The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-12
SISTER MARY L. NEALE DEAD.
The Venerable Nun PASSES away
From the Effects Of Dropsy.

BALTIMORE. Sept. l2-Sister Mary
Leonard Neala. for si,,t=-1ivc years "a
member of tn- order of Visitation Nuns
died yesterday at the convent of the or
der. at Park Avenue and Centre Street
Of which she was one of the founders
Her death was caused by dropsy. She had
Icen ailinE Tor about two years. but had
been confined 10 bed only during the past
three weeks
Funeral services were held this morn
ing in the chapel of the convent and q
mass Of requiem was celebrated by Rev
Ferdinand J. Eott. Of ST. AIphonsus
Catholic Church In the afternoon the
body was taken 10 Mount De Sales Con
vent near Gainesville. and buried in the
cemetery on the convent grounds Six
sisters acted as honorary palI5earers-
Sister Mary Leonard was born in
Charles county. Nd, October I. 1920. She
was the daughter of George Neale "a rel
ative Of Archbishop Leonard Neale, sec
ond Archbishop of Baltimore. Her mother
was Miss Harriet Matthews also Of
Charles county. She was connected with
the families Of fancy. Brent. and Mat
thewS. as well as with other leading fam
lilies Of Charles and St Marys counties
She became a student at the Academy Of
Visitation. Georgetown. d G.. when elev-
IN years old, and five years later decided
10 become a member OF the order on
November - 1857, she made her vows and
was profess,d as a member of the order
after having spent year in the novitiate-
She was sent to Baltimore to join seven
other sisters who had been sent here to
found a convent. They procured "a house
at the northeast corner of Greene and
Mulberry Streets and remained there un-
I'll 1871. when they removed to the pres
ent building.
Sister Mary Leonard developed marked
ability both as a teacher and as an eNecu-
tive In 1867 she was elected Superior Of
the Convent for a term Of three years.
Subsequently, she was six times elected to
that Office, always filling it with dignity
and credit. She was for many years pro
curatrix Of the convent in which position
she displayed much business ability. one
of the Sisters. in speaking of her, said she
was liberal without being extrayagant
and economical without being stingy. She
was gifted intellectually. but withaI was
modest and Unassuming.
III 1865 Bishop Loughlin. Of Brooklyn,
recognizing her administrative ability.
asked that she be sent to serve as Supe-
riur of the Convent Of the order in that
city She remained there only two years,
failing health COMPELLING her return 70
this city, and thus had spent sixty-two
years Of her life within its walls.
Sister Leonard was the last survivor Of
the founders Of the convent. The others
were Mother JuIiana Matthews. the first
Superior, Sister MiChaela jenkins Sister
Paulina Willard, Sister EIeauora Walsh
Sister Phi!onena Stonestreet, sister CI0-
tlda smith. and Sister Rose Hurley. In
the convent now there are more than fifty
Sisters. Sister Leonard is survived by a
number % relatives. Francis NeaIe and
Mrs. Jameson, both Of Charles county. are
her brother and sister, respectively Mrs.
Emily Diggs, Of Baltimore. is a niece A
daughter Of Mrs Diggs. Miss Agnes
Dogs, recently entered the order Of Sis
ters OF Mercy. Rev. Brent Matthews. Of
the Society OF Jesus, is a great-nephe " Of
sister Leonard A few weeks ago he was
sent 70 Jamaica Mother Regina. at one
time Superior Of Mount de Sales Convent,
who died in 1891, was q sister Of Sister
I.gGUgTI