Sister Elizabeth Ann Tonroe

Sister Elizabeth Ann (Mary Theresa) Tonroe, age 94, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on September 27, 2021.  She was born July 10, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland to Eleanor E. (Tighe) and Joseph M. Tonroe.  Before entering the Community, Sister Elizabeth Ann was a member of St. Ann’s Parish in Baltimore.   She graduated from Seton High School in 1945 and entered the Daughters of Charity October 26, 1946. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in French in 1960 from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg and her Master of Arts Degree in French in 1968 from Rivier College in Nashua, New Hampshire. 

Following initial formation, Sister Elizabeth Ann was missioned to teach at St. Dominic School in Baltimore (1948-1954) and then at Our Lady of Peace School in Canton, Ohio (1954-1960).   After these missions, she assumed the role of Principal at Our Lady of Lourdes School (1960-1962) and St. Michael School (1962-1967), both in Baltimore.  Sister Elizabeth Ann served in Formation Ministry at St. Joseph Provincial House in Emmitsburg from 1967-1970.  In 1970 she returned to education, serving as a religion teacher at Seton High School in Baltimore (1970-1973), as Principal at St. Dominic School in Baltimore (1973-1979), and as Principal at Holy Cross Regional School in Lynchburg, Virginia (1979-1980).  She then served on the Provincial Council for the Emmitsburg Province (1980-1989).  Her next assignment was Principal at Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg (1989-1991).  From 1991-1997 she was Director of the Educational Program at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C.  and from 1997-1998 she was Director of Our Lady of the Valley Center in Gloverville, South Carolina.  Sister Elizabeth Ann then provided support services at St. Ann’s Infant Home in Hyattsville, Maryland (1998-2000).  Following this, she was Sister Servant for the retired Sisters in Villa St. Michael, Emmitsburg (2000-2007). From 2007 to 2014 she visited the elderly and homebound parishioners from St. Joseph Parish in Martinsburg, West Virginia.  Sister Elizabeth Ann’s beautiful smile matched her cheerful disposition and attentiveness to others.  In 2014, Sister Elizabeth Ann was missioned to Villa St. Michael for the Ministry of Prayer, a ministry she held until her death.   

Sister Elizabeth Ann was preceded in death by her parents.  She is survived by her sisters Jean McCormick and Margaret Sellmayer, nieces and nephews, and her Sisters in Community.

A wake service will be held on Thursday, September 30 in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg at 7:00 pm.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Friday, October 1 in the Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.  Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Elizabeth Ann’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.