Maryknoll Sisters

Sister Patricia (Pat) Desaulniers, M.M. died on February 8^th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was born on July 23^rd, 1921 in Boston, MA to Marie (Dolan) Desaulniers and Eugene Desaulniers.  She had two brothers and three sisters: Charles, Eugene, Ruth, Eleanor, and Marguerite. She is survived by her sister Marguerite.

In 1939, Pat graduated from St. Joseph’s High School, Williamsport, PA. She then attended Williamsport Technical Institute (now known as Penn College of Technology) during her senior year for business courses. Following high school graduation, she also worked as a Billing Clerk at CA Reed Company for three years. During World War II, qualified by U.S. Civil Service, she worked as a Secretary for the Officer- in- Charge for the U.S. Army Air Force (at the Lycoming Division of the Aviation Corporation).

On October 5^th, 1946 Pat entered the Congregation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY (from Annunciation Parish in Williamsport, PA). She made her First Profession of Vows on April 6^th, 1949 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on April 6^th, 1952, also at the Sisters Center.

From 1948-1952, she attended Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center) and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.

Sister Pat received her first overseas mission assignment to Pusan, Korea in 1952! There, she helped with clinic admissions; taught catechetics and managed a Korean language study program for Maryknoll Sisters who were newly assigned to Korea.

In 1956, Sister Pat relocated to the Philippines, for the next 10 years she served as Principal in several high schools located in Malabon, Pakil, Santiago and Jimenez.  During this time, she also worked as a teacher in the Santo Tomas School District until 1965.  In 1968, she transferred to Manila to continue her studies in Sociology at the Asian Social Institute until 1970.  After two years of studying, she then served as Regional Governing Board Member, taught at the Asian Social Institute and planned seminars for faculty members at various Maryknoll Schools until 1974.  She then returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center for Congregational Service, working in the Communications Office until 1976

Sister Pat became involved in social work and pastoral ministry, working with the Southern KY Pastoral Missions in Burkesville, KY. In 1978, she transferred to White Oak, TN where she spent the next year engaged in community development efforts.  From 1979-2000, she served on the Regional Governing Board with the Maryknoll Women’s Network and also engaged in family ministry in Williamsport, PA.

In 2000, Sister Pat returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to work as Business Manager of the Maryknoll Sisters Mission Institute Program.  In 2008, she fully retired.

Funeral Services: Due to the pandemic, a private Memorial Service was held for Sister Pat on February 11^th, 2021.

Sister Mary Agnes Grenough, M.M. died on January 30^th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was born on July 2^nd, 1933 in Louisville, KY to Bernadine (Dudine) Grenough and E.R. Grenough. She had three brothers and three sisters: John, Vincent, Richard, Mildred, Rose and Jean. Her brother John has pre-deceased her.

In 1951, Mary graduated from Loretto High School, Louisville, KY. She enrolled in a nurse training program at St. Anthony Hospital, Louisville, KY and received her R.N. in 1954. Mary then attended Nazareth College, Louisville, KY where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Education in 1956. Shen then continued her education and received a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education at St. Louis University, MO in 1960.

On December 30^th, 1956 Mary entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation in Valley Park, MO (from Christ the King Parish-Louisville, KY).  Her First Profession of Vows were on August 22^nd, 1959 in Valley Park, MO and her Final Profession of Vows were also on August 22^nd, 1965 on the Philippine Islands.

In 1963, Sister Mary received her first overseas mission assignment to the Philippine Islands, there she served as a Nursing Supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital in Manapla until 1969. From 1969-1972, she founded and directed the Diocesan Family Life Center; was Secretary of the Diocesan Social Action Committee in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, and also conducted seminars, lectures and consultation services.

She then relocated to Quezon City to serve as a member of a health team doing paramedic training for adults in rural areas from 1973-1982.  Shen then returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Service working in the Office of Social Concerns until 1985.

Once again, Sister Mary returned to Quezon City to serve as a member of the health team, providing service in many different areas: member of the rural missionaries of the Philippines, paramedic training and health education, member of the Nationwide Council for Health Development (an NGO and inter-religious network of community based health programs), and committee member for political detainees until 2001. In 1994 Sister Mary received an award given by the Rural Missionaries of the Philippine Islands for her service to those in need.

Sister Mary then relocated to Myanmar, Cambodia to teach English, provide health education about HIV/AIDS and helped to develop the Myanmar Catholic HIV/AIDS Network until 2015.

She returned to the U.S. to retire, first residing at the Maryknoll Sisters semi-retirement community in Monrovia, CA and then later returning to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

Funeral Services: Sister Mary generously donated her body to science.  Due to the pandemic, a Memorial Service was privately livestreamed on February 5^th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.  Interment of ashes will be at a future date.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Margaret (Peg) Mary Kilduff, M.M. died on January 24^th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.  She was born on July 15^th, 1932 in Johnston, RI to Mary Louise (Coutanche) Kilduff and Edward Kilduff.  She had four brothers and three sisters; all of whom have pre-deceased her except Edward and Louise.

In 1950, Peg graduated from St. Xavier’s Academy in Providence, ri. She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 6^th, 1950 (from St. Bridget’s Parish, Johnston in the Diocese of Providence, RI).  She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1953 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on the same date in 1959, but in Arequipa, Peru.

From 1952-1956, Sister Peg studied at Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY) where she earned a Bachelor of Education Degree.  In 1976, she also earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from the Maryknoll Seminary, Maryknoll, NY.

Sister Peg received her first overseas mission assignment to the Bolivia/Peru Region in 1956. Upon her arrival, she studied Spanish in Cochabamba, Bolivia for one year before transferring to Peru where she spent the next 60 years teaching and doing pastoral work!

In 1957, she began her teaching journey in Puno where she taught 1^st grade for one year. She then continued teaching primary levels, but transferred to Arequipa where she spent the next five years.  In 1963, she was needed in Lima, there she continued teaching elementary grades and catechetics for six years.

Sister Peg transitioned from teaching and became involved in pastoral work in 1969. Her pastoral ministry was with the Institute of Rural Education & Community Development in Caja de Agua and Ciudad de Dios, Lima from 1969-1987. She also served as Head of the Diocesan Commission for Social Communications, Resource Person for the Institute of Rural Education & Community, and offered human resource skills and religious formation to the laity until 2008.

She then retired from Diocesan work and helped initiate a Pax Christi group in Lima, while also continuing to do pastoral work with at risk youth. During this time, Sister Peg also served as a Regional Governing Board Member for the Maryknoll Sisters Peru Region Projects and on the Congregational Task Force until 2013.

In 2016, after spending six decades serving the people of Peru, Sister Peg returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to fully retire.

Funeral Services: Sister Peg generously donated her body to science. A memorial service will be livestreamed on 1/29/2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Dorothy McGowan, M.M. died on January 13th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was born on August 25th, 1934 in New York City to Catherine (Dalton) McGowan and Terence McGowan. She is survived by her only brother, Kenneth McGowan.

Dorothy graduated from St. Barnabas High School, Bronx, NY in 1952. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate, Maryknoll, NY on September 2nd, 1952 (from St. Brendan Parish, New York City). She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1955 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on the same date in 1961, also at the Sisters Center.

After her First Profession of Vows, Sister Dorothy worked temporarily in the kitchen, Treasury Department and for the Field Afar Magazine office at the Maryknoll Seminary. From 1957-1961, she studied at Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the Maryknoll Sisters Center property) where she received her Bachelor of Education Degree. In 1963, she earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Notre Dame University. 

Sister Dorothy received her first overseas assignment in 1963 to Malabon, Philippines. There she served as a high school religion and math teacher. In 1964 she transferred to Maryknoll College in Quezon City where she worked as Head of the Math Department, Dean of Students and taught math until 1973. She then transferred to Santo Tomas, Mindanao to teach in the local high school and do pastoral work.

In 1974, Sister Dorothy returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to serve on the Congregation’s Central Governing Board until 1978. She was then assigned to Bandung, Indonesia, first to study the language and culture and then to work in a community health program where she remained until 1987. From 1986-1990, she also worked in Seminary Administration.

In 1991, she received her next mission assignment to Kabupaten Aileu, East Timor. There, she did pastoral work, health work in the local parish clinic, part-time teaching in the high school and was the full-time Coordinator of the Family Life Program until 2014.

In 2015, Sister Dorothy returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to fully retire. 

Funeral Arrangements: Sister Dorothy’s body was interred in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery. Her Memorial Service was livestreamed on 1/22/2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Beatrice Carvalho, M.M. died on January 10th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.  She was born on June 22nd, 1924 in Hawi, Hawaii to Margaret (Silva) Carvalho and Eugene Carvalho. She had four brothers and three sisters, all of whom have pre-deceased her.

In 1942, Beatrice graduated from St. Anthony High School in Wailuku, Maui, HI.  She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters on September 6th, 1944 in Maryknoll, NY (from St. Anthony Parish, Wailuku). She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1947 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on the same date in 1950, also at the Sisters Center.

Sister Beatrice studied at Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Sisters Center) from 1946-1950, there she received her Bachelor of Education Degree.

In 1950, she received her first overseas mission assignment to Siuna, Nicaragua; after five months studying the Spanish language, she taught first grade.  In 1954, she received an assignment to the Maryknoll Sisters new mission project in Puerto Armuelles, Panama. While on her way to her new mission, she was delayed in Ancon, in the Canal Zone for six months, there she taught catechism to patients at Gorgas Hospital until 1955.  After her six months in the Canal Zone, Sister Beatrice was able to move to Puerto Armuelles and teach at the parish high school, Colegio San Antonio. She spent one year teaching a variety of subjects: English, music, art, geography and history and was then appointed as Superior and School Principal of the Puerto Armuelles Mission from 1956-1961.

She spent the next several years serving in many different roles.  She taught English in Mexico City and Puebla, Mexico from 1961-1971 and served as Director of Commercial Studies. From 1971-1980, she returned to Hawaii to teach Spanish and Religion, served as school counselor and Chairman of the Guidance Department at St. Anthony School in Wailuku.

In 1980, Sister Beatrice returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Service in the Treasury Department until 1982. She also served as one of the Council Member’s from 1982-1985. 

She was then assigned to Guatemala City to do pastoral work and teach religious education for youth in public schools from 1986-2001.  She returned to Maryknoll, NY to engage in Congregational Service again in 1995-1998.

From 2001-2005, Sister Beatrice relocated to Chicago to serve as Co-Director of Orientation.  As she began to transition into retirement she joined the Maryknoll Sisters Community in Monrovia, CA from 2006-2012.  In 2012, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to fully retire.

Funeral Arrangements: Sister Beatrice’s body was interred in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery. Her Memorial Mass was livestreamed on 1/15/2021 due to the COVID pandemic.