Sister Mary Owen (formerly Ursula Hall De Simone) De Simone

Sister Mary Owen De Simone, formerly Ursula Hall De Simone, passed away on February 27, 2024, in Wayland, Massachusetts, at the age of 73.

Born on December 14, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York, Ursula was the eldest daughter of Salvatore V. DeSimone and Damaris (Smith) DeSimone. She grew up with a deep sense of compassion and responsibility, qualities that would define both her professional and spiritual life. She attended Saint Mary’s School in Peekskill, New York, graduating in 1968 before pursuing her passion for nursing at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. There, she earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and an R.N. in Nursing in 1972. She later continued her education at New York University, where she obtained a Master of Arts in Nursing in 1978. Her academic excellence was recognized when she was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nurses.

Ursula dedicated nearly two decades to The New York Hospital – Cornell University Medical Center in Manhattan, where she began as a staff nurse in the operating room before advancing to the department of surgical nursing. Her skill and leadership led to her promotion as clinical surgical supervisor, a position she held for ten years. Her commitment to patient care and mentorship left a lasting impact on colleagues and those she served.

In 1995 Ursula made a profound life change by leaving her career in nursing to pursue a religious vocation. She moved to England and joined the cloistered Benedictine community at Saint Mary’s Abbey in West Malling, Kent. In March 2000, she was professed as Sister Mary Owen. Within the abbey, she embraced a life of prayer and service, taking on roles such as infirmarian, gardener, librarian, baker, and guest sister. She also contributed scholarly articles on Saint Benedict, Pope Gregory, and The Psalms to theological journals.

Even before entering religious life, Ursula’s faith was central to her existence. While living in New York City in her thirties, she became an active member of St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue. She participated in community outreach programs, served on the Altar Guild, and acted as a lay reader at weekly healing services. Her devotion remained steadfast even after returning to the United States for medical treatment; she continued reading the holy offices throughout the day to remain spiritually connected with her fellow sisters in England.

Beyond her professional and religious commitments, Ursula was a beloved sister to Dorothy DeSimone and Tiffany DeSimone; a devoted aunt to Andrew Opatkiewicz, Katia Forish, Gemma Leghorn, and Edith Leghorn; and a caring great-aunt to Emma Forish and Oliver Forish. She was known for her kindness and generosity – never forgetting a birthday and for her sharp wit and unwavering sense of justice. She prayed daily for those she loved and directed her Social Security income toward charitable causes both in England and the United States. A Funeral Mass was held on March 8, 2024, at Christ Episcopal Church in Needham, Massachusetts. Remembrances and readings were shared by her nieces and nephew with a homily offered by the Reverend Nicholas Morris-Kliment. The following day, March 9, a graveside service took place at Hillside Cemetery in Cortlandt Manor, New York, and she was laid to rest close to her parents.

Sister Mary Owen De Simone’s life was one of service – first as a nurse tending to the sick and later as a Benedictine sister devoted to faith and scholarship. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her. On the day before her death, she spoke these last words “Pretty soon I won’t be good for anything but God” but she was mistaken about that. She lives on as an inspiration to all who knew her, and is always in the thoughts and forever in the hearts of the family and friends who loved her so dearly.

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