Sr. Mary Louis Auger

Sister Mary Louis (Alice Elizabeth) Auger 96 yrs., died peacefully on October 31, 2015 at Frances Warde Convent, Portland. Sister Mary Louis was the daughter of Joseph Auger and Elizabeth Moore. She graduated from Cathedral High School, Portland, class of 1937, and entered the Sisters of Mercy, Portland, from Sacred Heart Parish, Portland, that same year. Upon entering, she began her studies at St. Josephs College, Standish, receiving her B.A. in Education and went on for her M.A. in French at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. Sister Mary Louis began her teaching career in elementary education in parochial schools. Her first assignment was at St. Dominics School, Portland followed by Sacred Heart School, Portland; Holy Cross School, South Portland; St. Theresas School, Brewer; St. Patricks School, Portland; Cathedral Jr. High, Portland and St. Josephs Academy, Portland. In 1956, Sister Mary Louis began her high school ministry at her alma mater, Cathedral High School, Portland. She also taught in several other high schools: Orono Catholic High School, Orono and John Bapst High School, Bangor. In 1969, she was assigned to the newly built Catherine McAuley High School, Portland, where she taught French until her retirement from education in 1986. Following her retirement from teaching, Sister Mary Louis was appointed assistant to the Treasurer of the Sisters of Mercy at St. Josephs Motherhouse, Portland. Her keen memory, acute accuracy and con-scientious attention to detail, made her a perfect fit for this demanding position. When Sister Mary Louis finished in this position, retirement was not in her vocabulary. She kept herself busy with many tasks she quietly undertook around the Motherhouse and at Frances Warde Convent. Exemplifying Mercy, Sister Mary Louis prayed faithfully, volunteered generously and was a woman of hospitality. She will be remembered for her kind and gentle ways, whether at school, on visitations or at home. Her quick wit and ready smile endeared her to everyone she met. Her religious motto, Take O Lord, Receive, was lived out in her seventy-eight years as a Sister of Mercy. In addition to her beloved parents, Sr. Mary Louis was predeceased by her devoted sisters and brother, Virginia Strumph, Phyllis Huntzinger and George Auger. Observing the love and devotion of their parents, Sister Mary Louis nieces and nephews continued this close relationship with their aunt. She is survived by her nephews, Mark J. Strumph and his wife Cindy, Windham; Paul J. Huntzinger and his wife Celi, San Diego, CA., her nieces, Mena L. Goldman and her husband Joel, The Villages, FL., Julie L. MacIntyre and her husband Tom, The Villages, FL., Karen L. Stovall her husband Tom, Redding, CA., Joyce A. Norton and her husband Phillip, Rocklin, CA. as well as several grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister Mary Louis is also survived by her religious sisters in Community, the Sisters of Mercy. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 2 7 p.m. with a 6 p.m. Prayer Service at Conroy-Tully Crawford, South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street,Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. To view Sr. Mary Louis memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ctcrawford.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Sisters of Mercy, 966 Riverside Street, Portland 04103.