Sister Saint Lawrence Ailinger

Sister Saint Lawrence (Irene) Ailinger, a Sister of Saint Mary of Namur, died on March 31, 2021 at St. Mary Center in Buffalo. Her life ended where it had begun since she grew up in a house next door to the Center and had gone twelve years to the school formerly on the other side of the property. She was 105 years old.

After graduating from Annunciation High School, Sister entered religious life where she taught in Kenmore (St. John School), Lockport (St. Mary School, St. Patrick School, St. John School) and Lowell, Massachusetts (Sacred Heart School).

In the fall of 1946, she was sent to Namur, Belgium, to learn French in order to teach that language. After her return to America, she taught French at Mount St. Mary in Kenmore, Annunciation High School in Buffalo. Sister also worked as Guidance Director at Cardinal O'Hara High School. Later, she went into pastoral ministry at St. Benedict Parish in Eggertsville.

Sr. St. Lawrence was a great teacher and an apt scholar, earning her B.A. from Canisius College and her M.A. from the University of Montreal, both magna cum laude. However, her talent was not confined to the intellectual. She was successful gardener, even planting flowers in front of the Center in her 99th year, an inventive cook, and a competent seamstress. Her oil paintings adorn the walls of the Center. Perhaps her greatest talent lay in her ability to make others laugh, sometimes through witting remarks, other times through humorous imitations and songs. With the breadth of her achievements, Sr. St. Lawrence might truly be called a Renaissance personality.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Monday, April 5th, from 2p-5p at St. Mary Center Chapel, 241 Lafayette Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday April 6th,  at 10am, from St. Mary Center Chapel. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. If so desired, memorials may be made to Sisters of St. Mary, St. Mary Center. 

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