Dominican Sister of Peace Mary Lawrence Caniff died at Mohun Health Care Center, Columbus, OH on Saturday, June 30, 2012.
She was born in Steubenville, OH, on July 4, 1925. Sr. Mary Lawrence was preceded in death by her parents Lawrence and Ann Jane (Williams) Caniff, her brothers John and William Caniff and sisters Margery Caniff, Sarah Caniff and Mildred Rens. She will be greatly missed by her nieces, nephews and friends.
Sr. Mary Lawrence entered the Novitiate of the former Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs in Columbus in 1944 and made her Profession of Vows in 1946.
Sr. Mary Lawrence earned a BS from the College of St. Mary of the Springs (now Ohio Dominican University). She ministered in grade schools in Ohio at Holy Name, Columbus (1948-49); St. Francis (1954-56); Holy Name, Steubenville (1961-63); St. Thomas, Zanesville (1963-65); Blessed Sacrament, Newark (1976-78); and Holy Rosary, Steubenville (1984-86, 1988-95). Sister also ministered in New York and Pennsylvania, particularly ministering to the elderly at Verona House in Braddock and at Bessemer Terrace in East Pittsburgh. Sr. Mary Lawrence served the congregation as Assistant Director of Mohun Health Care Center (1995-99) and did supportive services there before entering as a resident in 2003. She loved to bake and supplied the Sisters with homemade goodies weekly.
Reception of the Body will take place at the Columbus Motherhouse on Thursday, July 5, at 3 p.m. Evening Prayer of Office for the Dead will be held at 4:45 p.m. with viewing continuing until 7 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be on Friday, July 6, at 9 a.m. followed by burial at St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Mary Lawrence's memory may be sent to Dominican Sisters of Peace, 2320 Airport Dr, Columbus, OH 43219 or submitted securely at www.oppeace.org.
Arrangements by Egan-Ryan Funeral Home, 403 E. Broad St.
