MARLBOROUGH – Sister Marie Stanga, a Sister of St. Anne, known in religion as Sister Madeleine Marie, died Sunday, March 17, 2013 at Marie Esther Health Center.  Sister Marie was in the 98 ^th year of life and the 78 ^th year of her vowed religious life. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Ellen (Beddow) Stanga of Boston. She completed her elementary education at the Perkins School in Boston and received her high school diploma from St. Anne Academy, Marlborough. Sister held a BA degree in English from Anna Maria College, Paxton, an MA degree in English from Assumption College, and a Certification in Library Science from Worcester State. She did further studies at Boston College, Quinsigamond Community College and the University of Massachusetts.

Sister Marie entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Anne in Lachine, Quebec, Canada, and professed vows in 1934. Sister's ministry as a teacher began in Quebec where she taught in schools in Montreal and on the reserve in Kahwnawake. In 1947, she returned to the United States and taught at both the elementary and secondary levels.  These schools were staffed by the Sisters of St. Anne in Turners Falls, Ware, North Adams, Easthampton, Lynn, Holyoke and Worcester, Massachusetts.

When she retired from classroom teaching, she became the librarian at Holy Name Central Catholic High School, in Worcester, where she served for almost 20 years before moving to the Marie Esther Health Center.

Sister Marie is survived by her Sisters of St. Anne community and her nephew Thomas Stanga of Salem, MA. She was predeceased by her three brothers.

She will be waked Wednesday, March 20 at St. Anne Convent, 720 Boston Post Road, Marlborough, from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 4 p.m.  The funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, March 21, at 10 a.m., at the convent chapel, with burial in Saint Mary Cemetery, Marlborough.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home ( www.CollinsFuneral.com ), 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. A memorial contribution may be made to the Sisters of St. Anne or to a charity of your choice.