Sister Stella Maris Craven, a Sister of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, died on January 24, 2025. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 2:00 PM Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Nativity Catholic Church, 1061 Folly Road, Charleston. The Rite of Committal will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the Mass.
Sr. Mary Stella Maris, formerly Gloria Frances Craven, was born in Charleston on August 22, 1933, to John Evangelist Craven and Erline Viola Meyer Craven. She attended St. Andrews and Bishop England in Charleston and graduated from St. Angela Academy in Aiken, SC. She received a BS degree in Secondary Education with a major in Biology and a minor in Math from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ and a MAT degree in Elementary Administration/Supervision from The Citadel in Charleston, SC.
Sister Stella Maris joined the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy on February 2, 1952 and professed her perpetual vows on August 22, 1957. An educator, Sister Stella Maris taught at Sacred Heart School, Cathedral School, Immaculate Conception High School, Bishop England High School in Charleston, SC, St. Mary’s School in Greenville, SC, St. Andrew’s School, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Our Lady of Mt. Virgin School in Middlesex, NJ. Sister also served as principal of a number of schools: St. Mary’s, Greenville, SC, Our Lady of Mt. Virgin School, Middlesex, NJ, and St. Andrews School, Myrtle Beach, SC. As her last assignment in education, she served as principal of Christ Our King – Stella Maris School in Mt. Pleasant, SC for twenty-six years. For five years, while teaching, Sister Stella Maris also served as Girls’ Director at St. Angela Academy in Aiken, SC and Girls’ and Boys’ Director at the City Orphan Home in Charleston. Until recently, Sister Stella Maris had been Director of the OLM Associate Program since 2007. When Sister Stella Maris left the educational field, she became involved in prison ministry and was an active participant in the prayer ministry of the community of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.
Along with her professional commitments, Sister Stella Maris Craven served in various leadership positions in her religious congregation. She served as Local Superior in St. Mary’s Convent, Greenville, SC and Christ Our King – Stella Maris Convent, Mt. Pleasant, SC. Sister also served on the General Council of the Congregation for fourteen years and was the General Secretary/Archivist for ten years and Vicar General for four years. She was also a member of many professional organizations. Throughout her religious life, Sister Stella Maris strived to live the mission of the OLM Congregation in the spirit of the beatitudes with humility, simplicity and compassion evidenced by our patroness, Mary, Mother of Mercy.
Sister Stella Maris is survived by a brother, James L. Craven, James Island, SC, and her Sisters in community, the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, John E. Craven, Jr. and Lawrence Joseph Craven, her sisters, Joyce Marie Tucker and Joan Hain Wilson, and sisters-in-law, Wendy D. Eacock Craven, Barbara Cain Craven, as well as a niece, Paige Marie Craven.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Center, PO Box 607, Johns Island, SC 29457.
Arrangements by James A. McAlister Funeral Home.