Sister Mary Damian Cookingham, OSF

Cookingham

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Mary of the Angels Chapel, Williamsville, on Tuesday, July 3 for Sister Mary Damian Cookingham, OSF. Sister Mary Damian, 90, died Saturday, June 30, 2007.

Born in Schenectady, N.Y., the former Laura Cookingham was educated in the Kenmore school system and Mt. St. Mary's Academy.

On Sept. 8, 1935, she entered the former Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Divine Child where she received the name of Sister Mary Damian. She made her final vows on Aug. 27, 1942. She received a Bachelor of Science degree and then her Master of Science in education from Mount St. Joseph's Teachers College, later known as Medaille College. In November 2003, Sister Mary Damian became a Sister of St. Francis of the Third Order Regular of Buffalo when her congregation merged with them.

A dedicated educator for 65 years, Sister Mary Damian taught religious education at Holy Cross and Our Lady of Loretto parishes in Buffalo. She was principal and teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Buffalo and at the Divine Child Kindergarten in Williamsville. She taught also at Our Lady of Miracles in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her last 30 years in active ministry were spent teaching religious education to children in parishes in Cattaraugus County.

She also served as vicar general, counselor and treasurer for the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Divine Child. Her last seven years were dedicated to the ministry of prayer.