Sister Eileen Brady
Host of Archdiocesan Program “Let’s Talk About God,”
Dies at 80
Maryknoll, NY — Sister Eileen Brady, MM, one of two Maryknoll Sisters who hosted the Archdiocese of New York television program, “Let’s Talk About God” in the early 1960s on NBC, died August 2, 2015, at Phelps Hospital, Ossining, NY. She was 80 years old.
An educator and social worker who served in both the United States and Southeast Asia, Sister Eileen was born in New York City on May 12, 1935, to John and Jule Mona Brady. She entered Maryknoll on September 2, 1957, from St. John the Baptist Parish, Yonkers, NY, one year after graduating from Marymount College, New York, NY with a B.S. in chemistry. She received the religious name Sister Maureen John, by which she was known on the TV program, making her first vows on June 24, 1960, at Maryknoll, NY, and her final vows on June 24, 1966, in the Philippines.
Sister Eileen’s first assignment was as a member of the faculty at Maryknoll Teachers College, where she taught from 1960-1963, working on “Let’s Talk About God,” a puppet program for children, on weekends. Then, following completion of an M.S. in Science at St. Louis University in Missouri, she was sent to the Philippines, where she taught at Maryknoll College, Quezon City, from 1963-1969.
Sister Eileen then returned to the United States, where she was enrolled at Fordham University, Bronx, NY, beginning in 1970, earning a master’s degree in social work in 1972.
She then served as Treatment Supervisor at The Children’s Village, Dobbs Ferry, NY, a residential treatment center for troubled boys, age 6 to 13, as well as working in marital and family therapist, with special certification in human sexuality training, from 1972-1996.
Sister Eileen then worked as a child and family therapist at Hallen Center for Education in New Rochelle, NY, from 1996-2000, before being sent to serve on the island nation of East Timor in 2001.
On East Timor, Sister Eileen worked with children and families who were struggling, following the hard-won independence of their nation. She offered Capacitar Training, which teaches holistic health practices, a program supported by a Timorese non-governmental organization. Special seminars followed for leaders, forming “Trainers of Trainers,” who were to spread the message of trauma relief and wellness to others.
Sister Eileen, who returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in 2013, is survived by several cousins, including Anita and Bob Arnold, Peekskill, NY; Marilyn and Frank Arnold, Valley Stream, NY; Linda and Bill Denninger, Hauppauge, NY; and Helen Wells, Corona del Mar, CA.
A vespers service will be held for Sister Eileen on August 6, 2015 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center at Maryknoll, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on August 7, 2015, at 11 a.m., also at the Center. Interment will be in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.