Sister Anna Marian entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of New York on February 1, 1947, her twentieth birthday. Her first mission was at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel on 116 Street, where she served for six years.
With two other sisters, Sister Marian began ministry at Our Lady Star of the Sea on Staten Island in 1958, living very simply in Quonset huts. A new convent and school were built soon thereafter. She was inspired by the sisters with whom she worked, as well as by two wonderful priests in the parish.
It was during her thirteen years in teaching the ministry at St. Joachim in Beacon, New York, that she worked with Sr. Therese Hannaway, who has been her good friend throughout her community life.
Sister Anna was an educator for forty rewarding years. While at St. John and Paul Convent in Larchmont, she began a different ministry as receptionist at the Salesian Missions, which she enjoyed for another fifteen years.
Sister Anna Marian retired to the Mount Saint Vincent Convent in 2003. When asked to begin a newly formed community in 2014 at the New Jewish Home ALP in the Bronx, she graciously said “yes.” Sister Marian is among the group at the ALP currently moving to Kittay Senior Apartments.
In her community today, she describes her ministry as a “life mostly of prayer.” Sr. Anna participates in Masses for deceased Sisters through live streaming. She is grateful for the generous services at the New Jewish Home, and is particularly inspired by Sr. Mary Kay Finneran, Sr. Grace Henke, Minerva (a companion to the sisters at the New Jewish Home), and other aides at the residence. She also enjoys the company of other Sisters of Charity in her community. In summary Sr. Anna said: “God is good!”
By Sr. Suzanne E. Wallin, Mission and Ministry Group
I was a student of Sister Anna’s at ST. Joachim’s school. She was tough. I am 62 today and can honestly say she was unforgettable!
DEAR SISTER, U MUST HAVE WORKED WITH MY AUNT…SR. MARY ANYSIA
That is great! We would be happy to check into this. Where did your aunt work?
God Bless. Sister Anna was, and is still a blessing for me in my life. From the age of 6. Praise be.
So kind of you to share such a lovely message. We’ll make sure she receives it!
God bless indeed, she changed my life in many ways.
We’re happy to hear your kind words. We’ll make sure she knows!
I attended St.Joachim under Sr. Anna’s reign for 9 years. To this day her level of care and her unique hands-on approach to education still resonates.
She has undoubtedly left her mark on countless students…
God Bless Sr. Anna!
Thank you, Adam. We’ll make sure to pass on our kind words!
I worked with this fine sister at St. Joachim’s in Beacon until 1984. It was great to read this article on her. She was a great colleague who influenced everyone around her!
Thank you, James, for your kind words. We will share them with Sister Anna Marian.
I owe so much to Sister Anna. So much of who I am now is because of her in a very pivotal time in my life. She leaned on me heavy but was compassionate. I just turned 58 and I have carried this picture of the Shroud with me since 7th grade. On the back of it, long worn away, is a prayer for vocation with a fill in blank for what you wanted to be. She asked me what I wanted to be and I said an engineer and she filled it in. I was a C student and in advanced NOTHING at St Joachim. Today I am a Sr Engineer for a Fortune 20 company with a degree in Physics. God Bless you Sr Anna for paying attention to the kid in the back of the class.
Thank you for your amazing story, William. We will make sure to share it with Sister Anna.
Our unforgettable Sr. Anna Marian, yes I too have found my destiny very far away cherishing the moral values I learned from this wonderful angel. I remembered you from 7th? grade 1974?from St. Joachim’s as a wonderful teacher and the verses in the Bible that I continued to read in difficult times well into adulthood. You taught me as a young girl that our bodies are to be protected like a temple of God. This I really understood quite later in life. I was allowed to participate in advanced math through TV lessons & till this day have worked as a TV Media Engineer using this analytical talent. Coming from a single parent large family with her guidance she helped me to strive 4 more in life & nevertheless have a heart 4 those less fortunate. I have visited many poor 3rd world countries but rich at heart & have learned that no matter where I am, there is only one thing important in life; do unto others as U would like them to do to U through kindness & love as a Christian & it will always be returned through angels like U. Your love 4 your students did make the world go around. Please let me hear from U soon. Perhaps our paths can cross in NY again. Wish U the best of health & your ongoing shining Glow. Gott segnet Ihnen weiter! Vom Herzen
A. Schaustal
Sr. Anna was my teacher at St. Joachim’s. Absolutely loved her and always wondered where she was. Would love to reconnect with her to let her know what a positive influence she was for me. God Bless you Sr. Anna!
Jacqueline (Fozo) Hawver
My Aunt Anna has been loved by her nieces and nephews forever!! Her unwavering faith has been a blessing for us all!
Sr. Anna Marian is truly blessed to have the love of her nieces and nephews. Her unwavering faith is a wonderful blessing and we thank the Lascell Family for sharing Sr. Anna Marian with us.
Sr Anna has been a wonderful aunt to me all my life. I have wonderful memories that I will cherish forever. Her never ending prayers have been a blessing to me. We have all been touched in so many ways by Sr Anna Marian Lascell. God, please bless her always.
Thank you, Annemarie, for sharing your memories about your aunt. Very touching. We join you in praying for God’s blessing on Sr. Anna Marian.
Anna has been my sister-in-law since 1962. Her nieces and nephews have been totally blessed by her love and caring. Anna never missed a birthday and she keeps up with their happenings. Her brother died in 2001.. And the the family of George Lascell have been blessed since I’ve known Sister Anna Marian Lascell.
Thank you, Mrs. Lascell, for sharing your personal reflection about Sr. Anna Marian. Blessings to you and your family. Stay well!
One of my favorite aunts and one of my favorite nuns. Definitely my favorite aunt who is a nun. I fondly recall trips to the library where she fostered my lifelong love of reading. She also taught me how to play canasta. The cheating part I figured out with the help of my cousin. Just kidding Aunt Anna, it was always on the up and up.
Thank you, Thomas, for sharing your thoughts. We thoroughly enjoyed them!
I had Sister Anna Marian in the sixth grade in 1963 at our Lady Star of the Sea. She was a wonderful teacher and meant so much to me. I had started at the school only the year before and had not found my way quite yet and so she helped me to do just that. I have never forgotten her all these years. She was a stand out! She knew me as Catherine Hodge. I would greatly appreciate it if you would let her know how wonderful I thought she was.
Thank you for your kind words. We provided the text of your message to the administrator at her residence for delivery. Peace!
Attended Our Lady Star of the Sea when it opened until I graduated in 1964 as the first graduating class. Have many fond memories of Sister Anna even though she was always teaching the grade behind me. I remember her at recess and ringing the gold hand bell signaling to line up with our class to go back to our classroom. We had all wonderful Sisters who prepared us so well in our faith and future lives.
Sister Anna has been a guiding light in my life. I was a student of hers at St. Joachims’ in Beacon. A hard nosed, no nonsense, compassionate teacher, who reminds me of coach Vince Lombardi. She knew when to be strict and raise her voice, and when to praise and pet you. Passionate about the Lord, I especially loved when she taught religion. Her teachings still resonate with me today. Like Billy Salvas, I had a similar experience with Sr. Anna. I was a skinny, scrubby kid who didn’t apply myself in school, until the eighth grade. She took me aside and said to me, “Sandford? Never wait to use your brain! You could have done so much more in the lower grades. Promise me, when you get to high school and the rest of your life, you won’t wait. Do your best and be the best.” I’ve been a Registered nurse at Westchester Medical Center for 33 years. God bless you. Bobby Sandford
Thank you for sharing your experience with Sr. Anna. We’ll make sure to send her your comment. Blessings!