BELMONT — Sister Mary Agnes Solari, a Sister of Mercy for 70 years, died June 11, 2019, at Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont.
The sharing of memories will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, June 14, 2019.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15, 2019, in the Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, followed by interment in the Belmont Abbey cemetery.
She was born in Richmond, Va., the youngest of four children. Her parents, Frank and Agnes Feeney Solari, and her sisters, Jean and Mary, preceded her in death.
She is survived by her brother, Frank Solari, and sister-in-law Joan; 15 nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. She also was the cousin of Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and Father James Solari, chaplain at Maryfield in High Point.
In 1949, she entered the Sisters of Mercy with 11 other young women. This was the
beginning of the now famous “49ers” and began her 70 years of commitment to religious life, a life of prayer, ministry and companionship interspersed with joy.
Sister Mary Agnes graduated from St. Gertrude’s High School in Richmond and earned a baccalaureate degree from Belmont Abbey College and a master’s degree in education and supervision from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She was a well-known and popular teacher at St. Patrick’s School in Charlotte, St. Michael’s School in Gastonia, St. Mary’s School in Wilmington, and Our Lady of Lourdes School in Raleigh.
She also served as principal of schools in Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville.
After years of teaching, she attended Seattle University in Washington to prepare for an extended ministry. In 1979, she worked in campus ministry at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College. Her commitment to teaching continued, and she tutored students at the Evelyn Mack Day School in Charlotte.
Her service to the Sisters of Mercy included her time as director of formation and novices. She also was named a trustee of Sacred Heart College in Belmont.
Sister Mary Agnes was known and cherished for her sense of humor. She brought joy and surprises to her settings and friends. She could sing and play the violin. She loved animals of all kinds, except bugs, and was famous for having a pet pig. One year she was given a baby pig by her pastor, not realizing how large it would grow. The pig enjoyed convent living until the time came for him to be given to a farm, where he would have pig peers. This little pig brought, among other things, many laughs and a sweet memory of Sister Mary Agnes.
Her motto in religious life was “What is This to Eternity?” She wrote her meaning of this: “In bad times – with help, we can get through it – don’t give up. In good times – don’t get too caught up that you lose sight of what’s important.”
Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, 500 Sacred Heart Circle, Belmont, N.C. 28012.
McLean Funeral Home of Belmont is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald