Honoring the Memory
of Those
We Love

Sister Margaret Markey, a Sister of St. Francis of the Providence of God for 69 years, died at the age of 87 on June 7, 2026. Born April 4, 1939 in Wheeling WV, she is survived by her Franciscan Sisters in community and her sister Susan (Bernard) Zidar, nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Sister Peg was raised in Whitehall, PA where she attended St. Bernard School and St. Francis Academy. Upon graduation, she entered the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God in September 1957. Sister Peg earned a B.S. and M.S. in Education from Duquesne University, and and a B.A. in Liturgical Music from St. Joseph College, IN. and was a Certified Nursing Home Director.

Always seeking a way to serve the poor and promote justice, Sister Peg engaged in a variety of ministries, teaching elementary education for 12 years in PA: Mt. St. Peter, (New Kensington), St. George (Philadelphia), Holy Trinity, St. Gabriel and St. Valentine Schools (Pittsburgh). She taught 7 years at St. Francis Academy (Pittsburgh) before becoming chaplain at the Youth Development Center in Waynesburg and then counseled at Covenant House in New York. For ten years she cared for the elderly at the Motherhouse and South Minister Place in Washington PA as administrator before spending 7 years as a foster mom for children with HIV-AIDS in Houston TX, and as caregiver in Pittsburgh.

In 2004 Sr. Peg was elected as General Councilor for 2 terms, then returned to work as liturgist and as a volunteer at Beatitude House (Youngstown OH). Her final ministry was as Congregational Archivist, sharing her meticulous organizational skills.

Having donated her body to the Humanities Gifts Registry for medical research, a Memorial Mass will be celebrated June 20, 10:00 AM at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Church, 5200 Greenridge Drive, Pittsburgh PA. Friends and family are invited to share a meal at Gianna Via’s Restaurant, 5301 Grove Road: RSVP to Mimi 412-882-9911 for luncheon. Arrangements handled by the John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc., 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood 15227.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God, 5802 Curry Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234.