Mercy Sister Margaret Mary Knittel, 80, died Sept. 8.

Born in Chicago, she attended Catholic schools, graduating from Nazareth High School in 1957. She entered the Sisters of Mercy at the age of 22.

She taught at Mother McAuley High School, where Sister Sue Sanders, leader of the West Midwest Community, remembers having her as a teacher.

“For me, as a high school freshman, Sister Margaret Mary was a dynamic, energetic and renowned mathematics teacher. An excellent writer, yes, but she was also a poet, whimsical and profound. Margaret’s mind was breath-taking to behold.”

She also taught in Ottawa and was associate director of religious education for the Diocese of Rockford before becoming director of operations at ACTA/Life in Christ in Chicago.

She was personnel director at Saint Xavier College (now University) from 1980 to 1987, before earning a Master of Divinity degree. She then served as director of religious education at St. Mary Parish in Chicago.

She was a grant consultant at Presence Mercy Medical Center for 15 years, and then, after retiring from full-time ministry, she served her community.