Summary
Sister Mary Peter Chiodo, ASC, died peacefully at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, PA. She was 94 years old, born on January 19, 1929, and had been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 63 years.
Sister Mary Peter Chiodo, ASC, died peacefully at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, PA. She was 94 years old, born on January 19, 1929, and had been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 63 years.
Sister Mary Peter, born in Homestead, PA, was baptized Maria Angela. She was one of five children in the family of Pietro and Maria Grazia Michelina Chiodo. She made her first profession on
July 1, 1959, and her final vows on July 1, 1964.
Maria Angela received her bachelor’s degree in economics in 1951, and her master’s in education in 1957, both from the University of Pittsburgh. As Sr. Mary Peter, she earned a master’s in administration from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN, in 1978, and a master’s in formative spirituality from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in 1987. She held a certificate for teaching social studies from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Sister Mary Peter’s ministries focused on teaching and community service. She taught at St. Mary School in Steelton and Sacred Heart in McKeesport, both in PA; Christ the King in Kinston, NC; St. Teresa in Albany, GA; Mount Carmel in Niles, OH; and St. Jerome in Chicago, IL. On the secondary level, she taught at St. Joseph Academy in Columbia, PA, and at Lancaster Catholic in Lancaster, PA. She also taught conversational English in Bari, Italy, for a semester.
In the area of community service, Sr. Mary Peter worked as assistant treasurer, then as provincial treasurer for almost 10 years for the former province of Columbia. In addition, she spent several years in the business administration office at St. Anne’s Home for the Aged in Columbia. She was a member of the bookkeeping department at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, PA. Another of her administrative positions was as Director of the Precious Blood Spiritual Center in Columbia. She brought her conscientious spirit to each ministry.
The Chiodo family, close-knit and Italian, had strong devotions to the Blessed Mother and to the Precious Blood of Jesus. Praying the Rosary daily at home was the beginning of a lifelong practice for Sr. Mary Peter. She was also very proud of her brother, Father Peter, a member of the CPPS community.
Sensitive to God’s beauty in the world around her, she enjoyed the colors and sounds of nature. She delighted in listening to good music, loved to read, watch movies and listen to the games of any of Pittsburgh’s teams. She enjoyed eating out with sisters and other friends, and relished chocolate and ice cream.
Her effectiveness in teaching was evidenced by her ability to instill a love for learning in her students. She encouraged young minds to remain open to differences and diversity and to realize the importance of connecting history to events in the world today. She approached her ministries with eagerness and determination.
Sister Mary Peter was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Clare (Frank) Zuccarelli, her brothers Joseph (Florence) Chiodo, Santo “Sam” (Rita) Chiodo, and Father Peter Chiodo.
She is survived by nieces and nephews, and members of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
Services for Sr. Mary Peter will be at St. Anne’s Retirement Community. Her body will be welcomed for viewing on Saturday, June 24, at 9:45 a.m. Her favorite prayer, the Rosary, will be prayed at 10:45 a.m., followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Convent Cemetery in Columbia, PA.
Adorers of the Blood of Christ
United States Region
June 15, 2023
I just learned of the death of Sr. Mary Peter. I was in her community (Sr. Austin) and knew her and highly respected her, but most of all, I liked her so very much. She was a jewel. To all my ASC friends, my heartfelt sympathy.
Susan
Sr. Mary Peter was a joyful, kind person! I loved her laugh! She was particularly kind to the young sisters in the community. I always enjoyed her company and felt her support. We had a unique connection, coming from the same “neighborhood”. I know for certain, heaven is a brighter place because she is there! My sincere sympathy to the Columbia sisters. You have lost a gem …. for now.