Maryknoll, NY: Sister Cheryl Marie Allam, M.M. died on June 30th, 2020 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, New York. She was 72 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 54 years. She was born on November 26th, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan to Margarite S. (Tanoury) Allam and Nicholas Mark Allam. She is survived by her two brothers, Dennis N. Allam and Mark N. Allam.
Cheryl graduated from St. David’s High School in Detroit, MI in 1965. She then attended Wayne State University from 1965-1966 and worked as a switchboard operator at Finston Chevrolet during that time.
On September 24th, 1966 Cheryl entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Valley Park, MO (from St. David’s Parish, Detroit). She made her First Profession of Vows at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY on June 14th, 1969 and her Final Profession of Vows on June 19th, 1977 in Tokyo, Japan. When she first entered the Congregation, she continued her studies at Mary Rogers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center) and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Community Service in 1969.
Sister Cheryl then received her first mission assignment to Japan where she studied the Japanese language in Tokyo from 1971-1972. She then relocated to Kichijoji, Japan where she did adult education, group work with women, taught English as a second language, served on the editorial staff of two church related publications and worked with Alcoholics Anonymous from 1973-1981.
In 1981, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Service and was assigned to the Research and Planning Department from 1982-1985. She then attended the University of Hawaii where she obtained her Master’s Degree in Asian Religions in 1988. Following graduation, she returned to Kichijoji, Japan. There, she served in a health clinic, soup kitchen, women’s shelter and on the Editorial Board of the Japan Missionary Bulletin until 1989. She then served as Associate Journal Editor for the Japan Christian Quarterly from 1990-1997.
From 1998-2000, Sister Cheryl returned to Detroit, MI on family ministry to care for her mother. She then returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she served as Coordinator of the Mission Projects Funding Office until 2004. She was assigned as Associate Director of the Congregation’s Development Department from 2004-2006 and Direct Mail Manager in the Development Department from 2007-2012.
In 2013, she was assigned as the Maryknoll Sisters Center Library Administrator, a post which she faithfully carried out until death.
Funeral Services: Sister Cheryl Allam was interred privately on 7/1 in our Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery. Memorial Services are pending.