Sister Marie Angela Bayne, SSND
February 9, 1929 – October 31, 2021
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 9, 1929, and baptized at St. Paul Church, Catherine Louise was one of the three children of Charles and Katherine Cunningham Bayne.
By the time she was in fifth grade, Catherine expressed interest in entering religious life. As a senior at Notre Dame Preparatory School, she said, “I definitely made up my mind and had no more doubts.” Her choice of the School Sisters of Notre Dame was made because, Catherine said, “I wanted to teach children, and I knew the Notre Dames were the best.”
Catherine was received into the novitiate on July 16, 1948 as Sister Marie Angela. She professed her first vows on August 3, 1949 and was sent to Tampa, Florida to teach second grade and music.
After teaching elementary and high school classes for nearly 25 years, Marie Angela became part of the Emmaus Community in Camden, N.J. Working with three parishes, Sister endeavored to bring together the Puerto Rican families spread throughout the area. Fluent in Spanish, she loved working with the Hispanic population as she visited homes, taught CCD and planned activities for youth groups.
Marie Angela returned to Florida in 1977 as a teacher and vice-principal. A few years later, she heard the call for bilingual religious education teachers. She answered that call. Marie Angela became a pastoral minister and later director of religious and pastoral ministers at St. Agnes parish in Key Biscayne. This became her little piece of paradise.
Whatever the need, Marie Angela sought to help. Whether rich or poor, Marie Angela reached out to aid those in need. She began Sunday socials for those who worked to provide for their families in other countries. She convinced doctors to set up a monthly free clinic in the parish and lawyers to do pro bono work for those with visa problems.
Sister Marie Angela earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Chemistry in 1960 at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (now Notre Dame of Maryland University), a Master of Science in Secondary Education in 1970 from Villanova University, and, in 1988, a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry-Hispanic at S E Pastoral Institute in Miami.
Sister Marie Angela was a woman with wonderful enthusiasm for life. She cared for all who came her way as she shared her warm smile, great sense of humor, and generous nature. Marie Angela lived that special spark of life, continuing to care for others, even as she retired to prayer and presence at Villa Assumpta.
Sister Marie Angela died at Stella Maris Nursing Home, Timonium, on October 31, 2021. The Wake-Christian Liturgy was celebrated on November 4, 2021. Sister Marie Angela’s remains were interred at Villa Maria Cemetery, Glen Arm Rd., Glen Arm, Maryland.
Sister Marie Angela is survived by her brother, Charles A. Bayne, and niece, Carole Levy, M.D. She was predeceased by her sister, Ann B. Jones.
Jeanne Hildenbrand, SSND and Marie Danielle Amspacher, SSND
