2320 Airport Drive
Columbus Ohio 43219
St. Mary of the Springs Chapel
2320 Airport Drive
Columbus
, Ohio 43219
Sr. Mary Thomasina John, P.C.J., born March 27, 1927, in Wheeling, West Virginia, entered Eternal Life on Saturday, January 9, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. Mary John, born to Lebanese immigrants, Sadie and Thomas John, began her education taught by the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus in Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite parish's elementary school, in Wheeling (WV). She began her 'dream journey' when she entered the Poor Child Jesus community in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Her 58 years of ministry began in St. Francis Xavier School in Parkersburg; later teaching in Illinois, West Virginia and, finally, in Columbus, Ohio, where she was the only Sister on staff at the newly established St. Timothy School. Sr. Mary Thomasina also served the community as superior in various convents in the American Province. Her final active ministerial involvement was at Our Lady of Bethlehem Convent and School in Columbus, where she was superior of the convent as well as administrator of Our Lady of Bethlehem Early Education Center and part-time teacher. In 1999 Sr. Mary Thomasina moved to the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse in Columbus with the remaining six P.C.J. Sisters in North America, all of whom had preceded her in death. Her final years were lived in Mohun Hall, where she experienced continuing great care. As she wrote: "I am most grateful to the Holy Spirit for guiding me here and to the Sisters for their acceptance of me from the time of my arrival. Their heartfelt, warm and friendly welcome has been a Godsend to me. May God bless and reward them for their love, hospitality and generosity, and may the fruits of their many works abound and flourish where they journey - near and far." In her final years, Sr. Mary Thomasina often expressed her gratitude to those who supported her earthly journey. She wrote, "I thank God first and foremost for the gift of my vocation; my parents, siblings, relatives; P.C.J. and Dominican Sisters and priests; and families and friends I've known in my years of serving God’s people - particularly the children, whom I have sought to lead to Jesus." Surely, our God delights in welcoming you home, Sr. Mary Thomasina. May you enjoy your eternal reward in God's presence with your dearly loved family, Sisters and friends! Please join us in prayer for Sister Mary Thomasina with her cousin, Sr. Sharon M. Peters, P.C.J. and the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Visitation 10-11 a.m., on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at St. Mary of the Springs Chapel, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, with her funeral Mass to follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial, 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Parkersburg, WV. Arrangements entrusted with JOHN QUINT TREBONI, 1177 West Fifth Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. Condolences may be sent via www.johnquint.com.