Sister Mary Matthew McCloskey, R.S.M., of Catherine McAuley Retirement Convent passed away in Barling, Ark., Feb. 15, 2009.

Sister Matthew was born Nov. 22, 1911, in Carthage to Joseph and Rose Agnes McCloskey. She entered the Sisters of Mercy community Sept. 3, 1932, and made her final vows in 1938.                     

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in secondary education and administration from Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio, Texas. She furthered her studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., Notre Dame University, Temple University, Georgetown and New York University in New York.

Sister Matthew taught at several schools in Mississippi including Biloxi, Greenville, Gulfport, Jackson and Vicksburg. In 1990, she began pastoral care at St. Francis of Assisi in Brookhaven. She retired to Catherine McAuley Retirement Convent in Barling in October of 2004.

She is survived by a sister, Agnes Petrie of Grapevine, Texas, and several nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

The rosary will be in Catherine McAuley Retirement Convent Chapel at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The Funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. in the chapel.

Graveside services and burial will be at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Carthage next to her parents at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Wilcox Funeral Home of Carthage is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be her nephews: Matthew, John, James and Joseph Petrie and Michael and Patrick McCloskey.

Memorials may be made to the St. Ann’s Cemetery Trust, c/o The Diocesan Foundation, P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 39225.