Sister Mary Louise Zollars

Sister Mary Louise Zollars, age 91, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on April 5, 2024. She was the only daughter among five sons born to parents, Frances Elizabeth (Meighan) and Thomas Franklin Zollars on July 11, 1932.  Before entering the Community, Sister Mary Louise was a member of St. James Parish in Mt. Rainier, Maryland. She graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Washington, D. C. in 1950 and entered the Daughters of Charity on June 16, 1951. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, majoring in History in 1965 from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg and a Master of Social Work degree from New York University in New York, New York in 1967.

Following initial formation, Sister Mary Louise was missioned to teach at St. Dominic School in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1952 to 1959 and to St. Catherine Labouré School in Wheaton, Maryland., until 1965. After graduate school, Sister Mary Louise remained in New York City for two years to work at Catholic Charities as a Social Worker. She then served as Director of Social Service at St. Joseph’s Villa in Richmond, Virginia, and at St. Joseph’s Day Care Center in Washington, D. C., later becoming Administrator. In 1975, Sister Mary Louise served as Administrator of St. Vincent’s Child Care Center in Timonium, Maryland, until 1980 when she served in various administrative roles in Catholic Charities of Raleigh, North Carolina until 1987. For the next 28 years, Sister ministered in Baltimore at Beans and Bread, My Brother’s Keeper Soup Kitchen, and later at St. Agnes Hospital, using her gifts as a Social Worker to assist those most in need, while helping them to obtain the tools to improve their lives. That was her life-long passion in living out her vocation as a Daughter of Charity. In 2015, Sister Mary Louise was missioned to Villa St. Michael for the Ministry of Prayer, a ministry she held until her death.

Sister Mary Louise was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers: Lewis, William, George, Edward, and Patrick Zollars. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, friends and her Sisters in Community.

A Wake Service will be held on Thursday, April 11 at 4:00 pm in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Friday, April 12 in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.  Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery on the grounds.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Mary Louise’s name to Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63108.