Born: Pearl Mavis Young, on April 15, 1924, Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies
Died: May 20, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY
Daughter of: Philip and Christine Young, Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies
Sr. William Margaret entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on February 2, 1954, was received into the Congregation on August 15, 1954, and professed her final vows on August 16, 1961. Sister devoted herself to the life and mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany for 68 years.
Sr. William Margaret attended Maryknoll Convent School, Kowloon, Hong Kong. She attended St. Elizabeth Teachers College, Allegany, NY, graduating from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She taught at the Elementary level at Marymount Academy, Highgate, Jamaica, and Junior High at Immaculate Conception High School, Kingston, Jamaica.
Responding to the call for health care, Sister attended St. Francis School of Nursing, Olean, NY; St. Clare Hospital School of Nursing, New York, NY; University Hospital of the West Indies; and the School of Public Health Nursing, Kingston, Jamaica, earning her Licenses of Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing and Midwifery.
Sister dedicated the remaining years in ministry to health care, working at St. James Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, Jamaica; St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa, FL; and St. Mary’s Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL. In 1975, she founded Hope Health Clinic in Montego Bay, Jamaica, focusing on primary and preventive medicine for the poor and marginalized. She served in the field of Public Health until her retirement at St. Elizabeth Convent, Tampa, FL, in 2005. Sr. William Margaret was warmly welcomed home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in January of 2022.
Sister is predeceased by her parents, Philip and Christine Young, five brothers: Reginald, Noel, Gerald (Anna), Royce (Arabella), and Ronald (Bev); two sisters: Yvonne (Victor) Lyn and Gloria (Allen) Liu and a cousin, Sr. Miriam Dolores, OP, a member of the Blauvelt Dominican Congregation. She is survived by her brother, Damian (Shirley Wong); two sisters: Phyllis Chang (Louis) and Maya Leland (Ajith DeSilva); and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A wake service will be held at 4:00PM on Friday, June 3, 2022, in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 4, 2022, in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY.
Arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 East State Street, Olean, New York. For condolences, please visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com.