Sister Winifred Mary Lyons, Sister Mary Walter, was born December 25, 1942, in Yonkers, one of two daughters of Walter and Rachel Quadrino Lyons. Winifred attended Saint Denis Elementary School in Yonkers, Saint Barnabas High School, the Bronx, and College of Mount Saint Vincent for one year before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1961. Sister Walter earned a BA in history from College of Mount Saint Vincent and an MS in education from Queens College of City University of New York. She gained New York State Permanent Certification for Education (N–6) and Certification from Manhattan College, the Bronx, for administration and supervision in education.

Sister Winifred’s 43 years of ministry were devoted to education as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and Assistant in the Schools Office of the Archdiocese of New York. As a teacher on the elementary level, Sister Winifred served in Saint Monica, Jamaica, New York, Saint John the Evangelist, Center Moriches, Saint Patrick, Bedford Village, Saint Peter, Haverstraw, and Sacred Heart, Dobbs Ferry. She was an intern administrator at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Staten Island, Assistant Principal at Sacred Heart, Dobbs Ferry, and the Administrator of Saint Mary in Yonkers. In her last 19 years of education ministry, Sister Winifred promoted the Pro-Life programs of the Archdiocese of New York in elementary schools. When she retired from full-time ministry in 2008, she continued this work as a volunteer for 10 years. In 2019, Sister Winifred joined the retirement community at Cabrini of Westchester in Dobbs Ferry, where she was residing at the time of her death on October 31, 2023, in her 63rd year of commitment as a Sister of Charity of New York.

Sister Winifred often spoke tenderly of her memories of Saint Denis School, of a happy family life growing up in Yonkers, and of her sister, Kathy. Wanting pro-life efforts to continue, she chose to work with teens to prepare them for leadership in pro-life roles. During her leisure time, she enjoyed needlepoint, crocheting, listening to music, and a crossword or puzzle book was always near at hand.