Sister Clare Carty, O.S.F., Former President and CEO of St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, died on Saturday February 14, 2015 at Crozer Chester Medical Center. She was 78.

Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Margaret O’Brien Carty, sister of the late Anne Patricia Burke, Helen Fritz, and James F. Carty.

Sister Clare entered the Sisters of St. Francis Philadelphia in 1955 and was an elementary teacher in Baltimore, Washington, and Charleston. She received her BS in Education from Mt. St. Mary College, her MS in Guidance Counseling from Loyola College, and a Master in Health Education from George Washington University.

In 1980 Sister Clare was named Assistant Administrator of St. Mary Medical Center and was named President and CEO in 1982. Under her dedication, guidance, and gentle way, she built a foundation for the Medical Center and its healing ways to the Community that serves to this day.

Greg Wozniak, St. Mary CEO, said on her passing: “Sister Clare was committed to ensuring that Bucks County community members had access to the highest quality of care and service. Her persistence and leadership led to the development of one of the finest open heart surgery and cardiovascular programs in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the establishment of the only Trauma Center in Bucks County. Most importantly, Sister Clare was always interested in serving St. Mary colleagues, physicians, volunteers, patients and their families, and the community—especially the poor and underserved.”

As a Health Care administrator, she served on many of the Franciscan Health System Boards. In 2000 Sister Clare retired from Health Care Administration and focused her energy on the development of the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, Aston, PA.

Sister Clare served on many Boards and Committees within the County of Bucks, including the County Operations Review Committee, Emergency Services, Bucks County Wellness Partnership, Bucks County Health Improvement Project, Bucks County Violence Prevention, Bucks County Business/ Education Partnership, Chair of the Parenting Resource Centers, and many others. She received numerous awards: Citizen of the Year, Lower Bucks Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the First Annual Soroptimist International of Indian Rock, Woman of Distinction Award.

An avid sports fan, she followed the Philadelphia professional and college teams and enjoyed playing golf and "talking sports" with friends and colleagues.

Sister Clare is survived by her brother, Thomas Carty, sister-in-law Agnes Carty, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday February 20, 2015 at 12 Noon at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, PA 19014. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 AM, followed by a visitation until her Funeral Mass. Interment will follow in Our Lady of the Angels Cemetery.

Memorial donations to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, PA 19014 are appreciated.