Mary Sanchez

Herminia Sanchez was born on April 25,1925 in Ahualulco, Jalisco Mexico at a time of great religious persecution. The persecution of the church had a profound influence on her early life. Her baptism and confirmation ceremonies were disguised as a party. Her first communion was also under cover. She was 20 years old before entering a church. She completed her elementary and secondary education in Mexico, graduating from the American School of Guadalajara in 1947. When she was in her early twenties, she confided to a Spanish Jesuit, her spiritual director, that she wanted to become a religious. He gave her information on the Religious of Jesus and Mary. This led to her leaving her family for the 1500-mile trip to El Paso, Texas to enter the novitiate which had been moved due to the Mexican persecution.

She entered the community on September 22, 1950, in El Paso, Texas at the age of 25. She was given the name Mother Maria Pura which was later shortened to simply Sr. Mary.

Sr. Mary was a teacher for most of her religious life, having taught in El Paso, TX, Los Angeles, CA, and Pacoima CA. She was also heavily involved in Hispanic Evangelization. In 1994, she participated in the Quest program serving as a Pastoral Minister in San Antonia de Padua Parish. In 2003, she was sent to Bethany Spiritual Life Center in Highland Mills, NY for a year of sabbatical and remained there until 2012 serving in various ministries and providing a prayerful presence. In her later years she did community service at Joan of Arc Mission Center in San Diego, CA. Everywhere she went she was lovingly remembered for her piety, her love of the Blessed Sacrament, her participation in prayer meetings, her gentle, humble, and peaceful presence.

Sr. Mary returned to the East Coast in 2016 first at Jesus Mary Mission Center in Plainville, MA until she moved to Madonna Manor in North Attleboro in 2020. She continued to be loved for her prayerful spirit and humble presence until her death on March 9, 2025, just one month shy of her hundredth birthday. In addition to her religious family, she leaves a sister, Maria Cristina Sanchez Rodriquez, from Guadalajara, Mexico and 24 nieces and nephews.

A Mass to celebrate Sr. Mary’s life will be held at Madonna Manor, 85 N. Washington St., Attleboro, MA on March 31, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at St. Jean-Baptiste Cemetery, 310 Wrentham Rd, Bellingham, MA. Arrangements are under the care of Duffy Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro, MA. www.duffy-poule.com