Sister Mary Alice Kline, RSM, died peacefully on Baggot Street, Saint Mary Home, West Hartford, on Wednesday, October 26th. Born in Washington, D.C. on March 26, 1934, she was pre-deceased by her parents James T. Kline and Margaret May Kline.  A Sister of Mercy for 69 years, she served in ministries throughout CT.

Sister Mary Alice earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education at the Diocesan Sisters’ College, Madison CT, (1956), a Masters’ Degree in French from Assumption College, Worcester, MA (1963), an Advanced Certificate in Elementary Education from Southern CT State University, New Britain, CT (1976), and a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration from the University of Hartford, CT (1993).

Known for her intellectual acumen and her exceptional organizational skills, Sister Mary Alice served as Secretary General for the Sisters of Mercy in CT, in leadership roles on many educational boards, and as a facilitator for regional gatherings of parish and religious communities.

Always committed to education, Sister Mary Alice taught at several elementary schools, the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall, Milford, CT and served as Dean of Studies at Mount Saint Joseph Academy, West Hartford, CT.  In her roles she emphasized the need to integrate values learned in the classroom with life experiences.

As area Catholic churches were planning for their futures, dioceses embarked on a planning process. For the Diocese of Norwich, Sister Mary Alice served as the first Diocesan Coordinator of Pastoral Planning, in this position, she ensured that the recommendations and reorganizations were based on the consultation of the people being served and advanced opportunities for enriching their faith communities. She served on numerous diocesan committees, as well as board membership on Catholic Charities and Mercy High School, Middletown, CT. Sister Mary Alice received The Patricia Anne Award, the highest honor given by the Diocese of Norwich, for her outstanding dedication and service.

Completing her leadership position in the Norwich Diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning, Sister Mary Alice focused her gifts and talents on ways she could enhance the outreach to the poor and underserved.  This vision brought her to Mercy Housing and Shelter in Hartford and the Siena Learning Center in New Britain. At Mercy Housing and Shelter she served as Project Specialist, responding to diverse needs and at the Siena Learning Center she helped immigrants adjust to a new country and language. Sister Mary Alice viewed her life as a response to God’s invitation to “exercise the spiritual and corporal works of mercy” as she learned from the Sisters of Mercy who educated her.

Sister Mary Alice is survived by her brothers: Robert Kline and Donald P. Kline, her nephew Thomas, several nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, their families and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her sister, Elizabeth Kline and her brother, James T. Kline.

The Sisters of Mercy are grateful to the staff at Saint Mary Home for their loving and compassionate care of our Sister Mary Alice.

Sister Mary Alice’s Funeral Mass and Wake will be held on Monday, October 31st at Saint Mark the Evangelist Church, 467 South Quaker Lane, West Hartford, CT. The Wake will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow the Mass in Saint Mary Cemetery, 2021 Albany Avenue, West Hartford.

Please consider donations in memory of Sister Mary Alice Kline to the Sisters of Mercy, 25 Prescott Street, 1st floor, West Hartford, CT 06110. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com