As a young woman attending Nazareth Academy, Sister Melita Burley’s great admiration for the Sisters of Saint Joseph inspired a life’s vocation as a woman religious. “I know that this is where God has called me and is present to me in every event and situation in joy and in sorrow,” said Sister Melita on the occasion of her 70th Jubilee in 2023.

After entering the Congregation and graduating from Nazareth College, she spent 50 years as a teacher, teaching grades 3, 4, 7 at St. Monica’s and then 21 years at St. Agnes High School. She also was a “teaching librarian” at Nazareth Hall Elementary School. In 2023, she reflected, “When I had the library at Nazareth Hall, the youngest children (preK-grade 2) used to come in for story time. I loved to ‘dramatize’ the characters — watching the little ones respond with wide eyes and rapt attention.”

From education, Sister Melita went to work in health care with the SSJ ministry, Sisters Care. The ministry helped care for people who were elderly or sick.