S. St. Urban O'Donnell (formerly Margaret M. O'Donnell), May 21, 2021. Age 95. Daughter of the late Urban and Marcella O'Donnell. Sister of Theresa O'Donnell, Kathleen O'Donnell and the late John, Urban, James, Anthony, Joseph and Thomas O'Donnell, the Rev. William O'Donnell, Francis, Mary, Patricia and Lucy O'Donnell and Marcella Sharken. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and members of her Congregation, the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Private services. In lieu of flowers donations to Saint Joseph Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, PA 19031, in Sister's name would be appreciated.

Koller Funeral Home
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S. St. Urban O'Donnell (formerly Margaret M. O'Donnell), May 21, 2021. Age 95. Born in Bethlehem, PA. Daughter of the late Urban and Marcella O'Donnell. Cousin of Msgr. William O'Donnell. Sister of Theresa Donchez, Kathleen O'Donnell, Micheal O'Donnell and the late John, Urban, James, Anthony, Joseph and Thomas O'Donnell, the Rev. William O'Donnell, Francis, Mary, Patricia and Lucy O'Donnell and Marcella Sharkan. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Barbara O'Donnell, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and members of her Congregation, the Sisters of St. Joseph.

A graduate of Holy Infancy School and Bethlehem Catholic High School, she spent her career teaching elementary school in Philadelphia.

Private services were held at St. Joseph Villa.

In lieu of flowers donations to Saint Joseph Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, PA 19031, in Sister's name would be appreciated.

Morning Call (Allentown, PA), June 10, 2021
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Sister Saint Urban O'Donnell died at Saint Joseph Villa, Flourtown PA on May 21, 2021. A Mass of Christian Burial took place in the chapel at the Villa, followed by her burial in the congregational cemetery.

Sister Saint. Urban was born on December 27, 1925, in Bethlehem, PA, the fourth of sixteen children. Her father, Urban, was the postmaster of the city and her mother, Marcella, a homemaker. They were members of Holy Infancy Parish. She and her brothers and sisters attended the parish elementary school and went on to graduate from Bethlehem Catholic High School. She always said that her parents were her first teachers, making sure that she and her brothers and sisters were well taught about God and their faith and were proud of their Irish Catholic heritage.

Living with the faith and love instilled by her parents and teachers, Margaret made the decision to enter the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Two years after graduating from Bethlehem Catholic High School, she entered the congregation on September 12, 1945, and began the journey of more than 75 years, living as an SSJ.

In our Constitution we read, "Called to the radical following of Jesus, in mission and for mission, we are drawn to be with Christ who dwells in the midst of people and who lives wholly for them. Our response of an undivided heart is made freely and out of love for God, who first loved us"( #62). These words took root in Sister Saint Urban's heart and guided her throughout her life as teacher, principal and secretary. She often recalled that she loved to learn as a child and was always grateful to have good teachers. She was motivated not only by the dedication but also by the kindness of her teachers; she tried to model herself on those whom she admired. She had great concern for her students. On snow days, especially when she was teaching students in low-income areas, her concern took the form of worry that they might be hungry because they would not be getting their noon meal in school.

Sister Saint Urban had the winning combination of tough love and kindness in the classroom. Through the years, she received letters of appreciation from parents and from former students. One of her former students, who apparently was not a model in the classroom, wrote: "I bet you didn't think I would write. I just really wanted to tell you, "THANKS!". Thanks for making me a man…and not a big-headed bum. I know that every time you corrected me, it was for my own good. I will never forget what you did for me…and you will always be in my heart".

Sister Saint Urban became what she always hoped she would be… a loving, caring teacher who expected her students to be their best selves. She became just that and much more, even in later years as her health diminished and her ministry became one of prayerful presence.

We are grateful for having had Sister Saint Urban among us, living and loving as a Sister of Saint Joseph. May she rest now in God's loving embrace and continue to pray for us.

ssjphila.org