Mary the Queen

Sister Marilda sits in the entrance of Mary the Queen, a nursing home for nuns in Yonkers, New York. The Sisters of Charity order was founded by Elizabeth Ann Seton, who was later canonized as the first American-born saint.
The residence houses approximately 80 women, including (from left) Sisters Jude, Mary and Helen. Sister Mary touches the cross every afternoon before lunch.
Many of the sisters stay within the walls of Mary the Queen until they reach the end of their lives.
Sister Anne Golden cries out in pain while recovering from a broken hip.
Many of the sisters worked as nurses and teachers before retiring to Mary the Queen.
In Mary the Queen, many of the women spend time by themselves and only come together for prayer and meals.
Each sister gets her hair trimmed every two to three weeks at the salon on the premises.
Many of the sisters only experience the outside world through the mail they receive.
Sister Helen has lived in Mary the Queen for over a decade. “ I thank God, but I'm afraid. I'm fearful of death. I have a fear of the unknown,” says Sister Helen.
For many sisters, a life committed to God has meant that as they age, they no longer have many family connections or outside visitors.
Sister Jude entered the Sisters of Charity when she was 17 and is currently 95 years-old. “God will draw you to where he wants you, unless you step in his way,” says Jude.
The parking lot of Mary the Queen.
The sisters attend a wake for Sister Patricia on March 4, 2010.
Like many of the residents at the home, Sister Mary suffers from Alzheimer's disease.
The living room of Mary the Queen, where many of the sisters spend their time reading.
Sister Mary leaves craft time.
Sister Constance’s room, one week after her death.
Mary the Queen was closed in 2014, and, since these photos were taken, many of the sisters have passed.

About

When nuns of the Sisters of Charity could no longer care for themselves, they retired to Mary the Queen residential home in Yonkers, New York. Once inside the home, the sisters barely left the pastel colored walls where they lived together, prayed together and died together. The sisters of Mary the Queen were some of the first career women in the states, becoming nurses, educators and caretakers for the poor. Yet in the 21st century, almost no new sisters have joined the order and many of the nuns are approaching death. This series is one of the only documents left of Mary the Queen residence, after it closed in 2014.