Sister Mary Rose Zaccari MPV

Sr. Mary Rose Zaccari, MPV, 82, of 31 Indian Hill Road, Worcester, died on Friday, December 28 in the Jewish Healthcare Center after an illness. She was born in Pittsfield, the daughter of the late Mariano and Isabella (Pupo) Zaccari. Sr. Mary Rose entered the Congregation of the Religious Venerini Sisters, making her first profession on August 22, 1959. She earned a BA in history and political science at the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY, a Masters Degree in History from Assumption College in Worcester and a certificate of advanced graduate study in Religion from Assumption. She also won several academic scholarships to summer institutes in international justice (CA); society and science (CO); economics (Assumption); and religious education (Fordham). Sr. Mary Rose taught in various grammar schools in the Worcester and Albany Diocese and in the high schools at Venerini Academy and Marian Central Catholic in Worcester (later St. Peter-Marian). She served as the religious education coordinator at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and later at Our Lady of Loreto. From 1983 to 1993 she was associate director of religious education for the Worcester Diocese. During that time she gave talks and classes throughout the diocese and trained catechists. Sister also led retreats and evenings of recollection in many parishes within the Worcester Diocese and beyond. She helped design the Loreto model for religious education, a summer program for children developed at Our Lady of Loreto Parish in 1995 and still used in several diocese in the country. In 1998 she received the Outstanding Religious Educators' Award from the National Center for Pastoral Leadership in Washington, D.C. Sr. Mary Rose served the Venerini Congregation as Provincial Leader from 1977-1983 and from 2000-2009. During that time she was active in the Leadership Conference of Women Religious for Region1. Her final term of office was highlighted by the Canonization of Blessed Rosa Venerini, foundress, and by the Centennial celebration of the USA foundation. Sr. Mary Rose leaves her brother Richard Zaccari, her niece Mary Ann Hyatt, and a nephew, Richard Zaccari, Jr. all of Pittsfield. She is predeceased by her sister, Loretta Zaccari Lisi of Pittsfield. The Venerini Sisters wish to thank the Presentation Healthcare Center of Leominster and the Jewish Healthcare Center and Hospice for their loving care of Sr. Mary Rose during her illness. The funeral Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday December 31,at 11AM at the Venerini Chapel, 23 Edward Street Worcester, Calling hours will be from 2:00PM to 6 P.M. on Sunday in the chapel. A private burial will take place in St. Josephs Cemetery Pittsfield, on Thursday, January 3rd. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Venerini Sisters Retirement Fund, 23 Edward Street, Worcester, MA 01605. The MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 370 Plantation St. is honored to be helping the Venerini Sisters. To leave a message of condolence to Sisters family please visit (Mercadantefuneral,com)