Sister Mary Dee Smith, who taught in Baltimore Archdiocese for 30 years, dies at 81

Sister Mary Dee Smith, who entered the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in 1965 and served 30 years in education in the Archdiocese of Baltimores, died Jan. 27 in Philadelphia. She was 81.

A native of Tunkannock, Pa., who was formerly known as Sister Peter Michael, she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and secondary education from West Chester (Pa.) State College, and a master’s degree mathematics from Illinois State University.

In the Baltimore Archdiocese, she taught at the former Archbishop Keough High School and then The Seton Keough High School, where she was chairwoman of the math department. Sister Mary Dee then served as assistant principal of Resurrection-St. Paul School in Ellicott City. After her retirement in 2005, she pursued her interest in art and continued to volunteer in various ways in the archdiocese. 

Before coming to Baltimore, Sister Mary Dee served in parish schools in the Philadelphia area, Atlanta and Kodiak, Alaska, where her students from St. Mary’s were recognized for their preparedness. At the post-secondary level, Sister Mary Dee taught at Sacred Heart Junior College in Yardley, Pa., and D’Youville College in Buffalo.

Burial was private. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, a memorial Mass will be held at a later date.

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