(October 24, 1936 – July 5, 2022)
Sr. M. Immacolata (Maria) Cecere was born on October 24, 1936, in Santa Paolina, province of Avellino, to Enrico Cecere and Emilia Aufiero. She had five older siblings, Giuseppina, Lucia, Antonio, Mafalda and Carmela, and a younger brother, Angelo. She spent her childhood and early youth in the family. She attended elementary school and middle school. Her father was a farmer and her mother a homemaker.
On October 25, 1950 she entered the convent, in the religious family of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, Via Paolo III in Rome.
On September 29, 1952, she took the habit and received the name Maria Immacolata of the Divine Providence. Her novitiate director was Sr. Maria Leocadia and her companions were Sr. Maria Candida and Sr. Agnese.
On the Feast of the Holy Archangels, she made her first profession on September 29, 1954. After temporary profession she was transferred to Dürrnberg, where she helped in the work of welcoming people who attended the home for care or rest.
She renewed her vows in 1957, on September 29, and two years later, in 1959 she made perpetual profession, again under the protection of the Archangels, on September 29.
In the years 1959-1963, she was transferred to Rome for studies, as a kindergarten teacher and as a nurse, head nurse and midwife.
From 1964 she began working as a nurse and midwife in Mondavio Hospital. The service she performed was very valuable to local people. She devoted special attention to people who were experiencing situations of suffering.
In the years 1965-1966 she was still in Rome serving the elderly in the San Giuseppe Nursing Home.
In the years 1966-1983 she was transferred to the San Giuseppe home in Mondavio and worked as a nurse in the Mondavio hospital. From 1983 she began working in the hospital in Fossombrone, Pesaro province. From 1984 she also served as local superior.
In September 2004, she celebrated her 50th year of profession in Rome.
Sr. Immacolata was a woman who loved to take care of environments with taste. She was known for her creativity, friendliness, sense of humor, and resourcefulness.
She was always appreciated for being ahead of her time, free as a religious and as a woman, resourceful and able to look confidently into the future.
She spent her last years in illness, cared for by the sisters of her community.
She died on July 5, 2022 in the San Giuseppe Nursing Home in Mondavio assisted by the sisters. On July 7, the Mondavio sisters’ community, the staff of the Nursing Home and all the people who knew Sr. Immacolata attended a funeral Mass in the chapel of the home, with the sister’s body present.
The body was then taken to Rome and the funeral was held the following day at the Generalate. She was buried in the Verano cemetery, however, Sr. Immacolata’s joy and festivity now dwell at the Father’s House.
Submitted by Sr. Laura Caddeo