Shelly Pennefather

Shelly Pennefather is a former basketball player. Shelly Pennefather’s new name is “Sister Rose Marie of the Queen of Angels,” and she now leads a monastic life after retiring from basketball. As a young child, Shelly watched her father play basketball. 

Shelly played a few seasons of professional basketball in Japan before deciding to retire as a cloistered nun in order to pursue her true calling.

She now resides in the Virginia Poor Clares monastery.

Childhood and Family

Shelly Pennefather was born in 1966. Mary Michelle Pennefather is her full name.

Mike Pennefather, her late father, and Mary Jane Pennefather are both her parents.

She has six brothers and sisters, and she grew up in a large household.

Mike, her father, was a colonel in the air force. He was a man who valued discipline much and was very strict.

Mary Jane was formerly a member of a convent as well. She had just turned 14 years old.

She spent nine months on it before realizing it wasn’t for her.

She abandoned that life, enrolled in school, and began a family.

Mary Jane dislikes using technology and being the center of attention.

Mike and Mary have never been avid users of technology.

Their children were forbidden from watching television in the 1980s when it was “the big thing.”

Naturally, it encouraged kids to participate in outdoor sporting activities more frequently.

Basketball was first made known to Shelly by Mike.

He taught basketball to all of his children as well as other children from their neighborhood alongside Shelly.

They would have to travel frequently because Mike was in the air force.

Shelly had traveled a lot before she was an adult. Children frequently had to switch schools and friendship groups.

Net Worth

Shelly Pennefather’s net worth is unknown.

For a higher calling, Shelley left her successful career and the potential of a $200,000 annual paycheck ($200,000 in the 1990s is equivalent to roughly $400,000 now).

Facts of Shelly Pennefather

Career in High School

Bishop Machebeuf High School in Denver, Colorado is where Shelly attended high school for three years.

Machebeuf had a 70-0 record throughout these three years and won three straight state championships.

She had to relocate to New York during her senior year, joining her father and her family. She attended Notre Dame High School in Utica for this academic year.

She finished that year with a 26-0 record and won a state championship. Pennefather maintained a winning streak throughout her time in high school.

She earned a silver media award in 1982 while playing for the USA women’s R. William Jones Cup squad. She also participated in the US Olympic festival selection in 1981 and 1983.

Career in College

In 1982, Shelly received her high school diploma. Pennefather was one of the top five recruits at the time that colleges were looking to sign.

She was desired by all the best colleges in the country. However, she went along with Villanova Wildcats coach Harry Perretta.

The oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania is Villanova University.

Harry was also a devout Catholic; he attended services each Sunday and prayed daily. Shelly joined the wildcats as a result of their shared adoration of the god.

Harry recalls that she was a slothful player when she first started playing NCAA basketball. Harry had been forewarned by Shelly’s father that “she would be hard to coach.”

Harry, being the rigorous coach he is, never spared her, though. He encouraged her to play at her highest level.

Shelly had considered transferring since Harry had been treating her so harshly.

Shelly really began to shine in the middle of her sophomore year. She started to play better than ever, and her work ethic grew stronger.

She continues to hold the record for both men and women at the school for the highest score ever. No one has ever surpassed her total score of 2,408 up to this day.

She received the coveted Wade Trophy in 1987. She was the Larry Bird of women’s basketball, as her father used to remark.

Professional Career

Shelly Pennefather relocated to Japan immediately following her undergraduate graduation in 1987. Japan was one of the few countries at the time where women could play basketball professionally.

She nevertheless played for the Nippon Express for three seasons.

She went to mass every day and picked up reading and speaking Japanese. She had a lot of spare time living alone in a strange place.

Similar to Shelly, who read spiritual books and thought during her downtime. Although she had always been a devout Christian at heart, this time alone allowed her to grow spiritually.

Retiring from a life of religion

Her final years working for Nippon Express were the most significant in her life. Her squad was performing poorly. Shelly thus struck a contract with the divine.

Shelly committed to giving her time and her post-season bonus to Mother Teressa’s monastery in Norristown, Pennsylvania, if she could get her team into the playoffs.

She ultimately won the game and even received the bonus. Pennefather went back to his house in the fall of 1990 and began helping out at Mother Teressa’s Convent.

She took great pleasure in the menial task. Shelly was deciding to become a nun slowly but steadily.

Everyone who knew Shelly knew she would become a nun, but no one anticipated hearing the phrase “cloistered.” They all believed that they would never see her again.

Enjoy Life

The teammates of Shelly recall that she once dated a mysterious man. John, Shelly’s childhood companion, was later identified by his name.

Likewise, they were introduced at a German base school. A link was made right away.

However, because the families were dispersed, they split up. Later on, fate managed to find a way to bring these two together in various ways. They continued to spend the summers together after that.

Young and in love, they were. Shelly adored children and always mentioned having numerous babies with John. Her teammates anticipated that she would become a nun or start a family with him.

John was the same. He was anxious to wed Shelly. But anytime he had the thought of popping the question, something stopped him.

John was raised a Catholic and was enthralled by the legends of the great saints.

He studied engineering, but a voice inside of him urged him to become a priest instead. So he didn’t bring a ring!

Everything came together for John later when Shelly informed him about joining the convent.

In God, Shelly had discovered her everlasting love.

John also received his ordination eight years after Shelly passed away.

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Teammates and family

Life has changed dramatically for Shelly Pennefather’s family and friends since she left.

Lynn Tighe, a teammate of Pennefather’s and his undergraduate roommate, works as an associate athletic director for Villanova.

A different teammate, Lisa Gedoka, is a high school basketball coach whose daughter is currently a Villanova basketball player.

Harry Perretta, who was her coach, is still in charge at Villanova.

He makes the trip to Virginia every June to see his favorite pupil and a close buddy.

He typically delivers a carload of necessities to the sisters in exchange for the ability to speak with Shelly behind a glass barrier.

Similar to Shelly, Dick, Shelly’s older brother, has been coaching high school athletes for more than 30 years. Mary Pennefather, his daughter, is a basketball player who is 13 years old.

Jane, Shelly’s other sister, decided to become a nun. She’s not cloistered, though, unlike Shelly.

For her cherished daughter Shelly, Shelly’s mother has kept a light burning at home.

Before coming to church, she continued to wear her shelly hair short.

Additionally, the mother and daughter won’t be able to embrace again until 2044.