Sister M. Assunta Desposito entered eternal rest on December 18, 2025. This 97-year-old Sister of Mercy was born on May 25,1928 in Savanah, GA. She is survived by the Desposito and Welch families, friends, and the Sisters of Mercy.

Sister Assunta was raised by her extended Italian family when her parents died when she was just 13 years old. Sister often said that this tragic circumstance brought her closer to God. She attended daily mass throughout her adolescence. She spent her high school years at St. Vincent’s Academy and said it was the Sisters’ love for their students and their devotion to our Lord that influenced her to enter the Sisters of Mercy.

She became a professed Sister of Mercy on August 16,1955, and chose as her religious name, Sister Assunta. The inscription on her ring reads: God is love.

Sister Assunta obtained a BA in Education from Mt. St. Agnes, in Baltimore, an M.Ed. as a Reading Specialist from The University of Georgia and an ED in Leadership from Georgia Southern University.

She said, “My first love is reading; if you can’t read you can’t do anything else.”

This love for education was to become her passion for her life. With 50 years in the classroom and in administration, she loved being able to help children develop their education and to love learning. She brought that love of learning to elementary students in Mobile, AL, Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Augusta, GA, and in Florida before becoming an education institution, here in Savannah.

She taught at Blessed Sacrament, Nativity of our Lord, and then became principal at St. Peter The Apostle Catholic Elementary School on Wilmington Island. At her retirement party, Father Patrick O’Brien paid tribute to her. “She has given 50 years to the service of God’s people. She has added a special dimension to our school and parish. We have been blessed to have her wisdom, knowledge, love, and care.”

After retiring from St. Peter’s, she told her friends that she would find something equally important to do. “I won’t be idle. If you just sit and vegetate, you get old and I don’t want to get old.”

She did find a worthy avenue to continue helping others. Sister utilized her many skills to help employees at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System.  She loved to see “the light come on” when a student grasped the necessary concepts for skills-based learning.

Sister was devoted to her religious community. Her last request was to go home and be with her community members.

Sister Assunta had many close friends in the community. Sister traveled with many of those sisters including Sister Redempta McNamara, Sister Susan Harms, Sister Bernarda Loncon and Sister Melanie Courtenay.

Sister Assunta loved life and was always willing to help anyone in any way. Her warm smile, keen wit, and generous heart made her beloved by all who met her. And yet, she was very humble and unassuming, never wanting to be the center of attention.

Sister Assunta retired to Mercy Convent in 2006. Once there, she again was keen to have a “job” to do. Sister became the sacristan for the convent. She set up for daily Mass, collaborated with the priests and was the official greeter for all visitors at Mass times. She had great devotion to the Blessed Mother and prayed every day before mass with her well-worn thick brown beaded rosary.

Sister was always the first to help at the convent in any way. She had a unique talent for putting together many items for the convent. “My Dad was a mechanic. Maybe that’s where I get the ability.” 

Sister was a devoted family member. Her cousin Francis and his children have kept in close contact with Sister and visited often, much to the delight of the Sisters at the convent. The Desposito family regularly made sure they had lots of sweets and goodies for any holiday.

Ever the protector, anyone who left the convent by the front would notice that sister insisted on waiting for them to get into their car to ensure their safe leave-taking.

Sister was a friend and confidant of all the staff at Mercy Convent. She was always curious about their families and their struggles. She remembered events and happenings in their lives, too!

Sister had lived at the convent for 19 years. She will be missed by the Sisters of Mercy Community, her family, lifelong friends, and the staff members of Mercy Convent.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. A prayer service will begin immediately following the visitation at 6:15 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 9, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Catholic Cemetery. 

Remembrances can be made to the Sisters of Mercy at Mercy Convent.