Obituaries

Sister Jennie Burke, Maryknoll Sister for 72 Years

Posted on January 24, 2017

Sister Jennie Burke, Maryknoll Sister for 72 Years
Sister Jennie Burke, M.M. died on January 22, 2017 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, in Maryknoll, NY. She was 92 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 72 years.

She was born in Nova Scotia, Glace Bay, Canada on November 5, 1924 to Catherine McDougall and Joseph Burke and became an American citizen in 1926. She had three brothers and three sisters: J. Raymond, John, Joseph P. Jr., Mary, Catherine and Margaret. Her parents and siblings have all predeceased her.

Jennie graduated from East Boston High School, in Boston MA in 1942. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, in Maryknoll, NY on September 6, 1944 from Sacred Heart Parish in the Diocese of Boston, MA. At her Reception of the Habit she received the religious name Sister Miriam Terza. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7, 1947 and her Final Vows on March 7, 1950, all at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. She earned two college degrees: a Bachelor of Education Degree at Maryknoll Teacher Training College in Maryknoll, NY and a Masters of Arts Degree in Religious Education at Seattle University, in Seattle, WA. In addition, she earned a certificate in Creation Spirituality at Holy Names College, in Oakland CA.

In 1949, Sister Jennie taught for one year at St. Anthony’s School in the Bronx, NY and was then assigned in 1950 to Hawaii where she taught in various diocesan schools until 1970. Following this, Sister Jennie became Religious Education Coordinator and sixth, seventh and eighth grade teacher at Maryknoll Girls School, Punahou, HI until 1975 when she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center and worked in Mission Education until 1978.

In 1978, she was assigned to Tanzania, East Africa where she did pastoral ministry and Christian Community Development in Dar Es Salaam from 1979 – 1981 and served as co-pastor of Sinon Church, Arusha, TZ from 1981 – 1986 . Following a year of renewal at the Maryknoll Sisters Center she went to Zimbabwe and Mozambique in 1988. She returned to Newburgh, NY in 1989 where she served as Community Development Coordinator and as a teacher in Adult Basic Education until 1990. From 1991 – 1993, she was a caregiver and counselor at ‘Arche Home in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. In 1993, she moved to Detroit, MI as a Special Education teacher at Mangrove College Learning and Writing Center until 1999. She retired in 2000 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. Sister Jennie died peacefully on January 22, 2017 and donated her body to science.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Jenny on January 27 at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. A funeral Mass will follow on January 28 at 9:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center.

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Agnes Miriam Donovan, Maryknoll Sister for 77 Years

Posted on January 20, 2017

Sister Agnes Miriam Donovan, Maryknoll Sister for 77 Years
Maryknoll, NY: Sister Agnes Miriam Donovan died on January 18, 2017 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 95 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 77 years.

She was born in Auburn, NY on September 22, 1921 to Mary and Thomas Donovan. She had four brothers and two sisters: Thomas Jr., Joseph, James, Harry, Ethel and Esther who also was a Maryknoll Sister. Her parents and siblings have all predeceased her. Agnes graduated from Auburn High School, in 1939. She joined the Maryknoll Sisters in Maryknoll, NY on December 8, 1939 from her home parish, St. Mary’s, Auburn, NY in the diocese of Rochester, NY. At her reception of the habit, she received the religious name Sister Miriam Anthony. She made her first Profession of Vows on June 30, 1942 and her final Vows on June 30 1945, both at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. She then earned three degrees: a Bachelor of Education from Maryknoll Teachers College, a Masters of Arts Degree in Religion from Notre Dame and a Masters in Education from Iona College.

Sister Agnes was assigned to St. Bernadette’s School in St. Louis, MO where she taught kindergarten from 1946 –19 47. She was then assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Valley Park, MO as Assistant Novice Mistress from 1948 – 1952 and then as Novice Mistress from 1953 – 1963. She then served as the Novice Mistress at the Maryknoll Sisters Center from 1964-1969. In 1969, she received her first overseas mission assignment to Colegio Monte Maria in Guatemala City, Middle America. Sister Agnes remained in Guatemala City as a guidance counselor, trained teachers and taught child psychology classes until 2001 when she retired to the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

She died peacefully on the morning of January 18, 2017.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Agnes on January 23rd at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at Maryknoll Sisters Center. A funeral Mass will follow on January 24th at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center. Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Sister Jean Roberts, Maryknoll Sister for 67 Years

Posted on January 18, 2017

Sister Jean Roberts, Maryknoll Sister for 67 Years Dies
 

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Jean Roberts, M.M. died on January 16, 2017 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 94 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 67 years.

She was born in Glenwood, MO on October 19, 1922 to Grace and Herman Roberts. She had two brothers, G. Sam and R. Waldo and one sister, Carol. Her parents and brothers have predeceased her. In 1940, Jean graduated from Lancaster High School, in Lancaster, MO. After graduating from high school, she attended N.E. Missouri State Teachers College from 1940-1941. In 1941, she transferred to St. Louis University where she studied nursing and earned three degrees: B.S., R.N. and a Masters in Nursing Education. From 1945-1947, she was in the Army Nurse Corps and worked as a pediatric nurse at a children’s hospital for two years before entering the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at Valley Park, MO on October 14, 1949. At her reception of the habit, she received the religious name Sister M. David Anthony. She made her First Profession of Vows on May 8, 1952 at Valley Park and her Final Vows on May 8, 1958 in Kansas City, MO.

Sr. Jean was assigned to Queen of the World Hospital, Kansas City, MO in 1955 as Hospital Supervisor. Six months later she became Director of the Practical Nursing School until 1962. Her first overseas assignment came in 1965 to the Mexico/Guatemala Region in Middle America. After a year of language study, she engaged in nursing education work in Jacaltenango, Guatemala from 1966 –1972 and was director and teacher of practical nursing from 1973-1975. In 1976, she was assigned as Director of the Maryknoll Sisters Health Services in Maryknoll, NY. From 1979-1980, Sr. Jean did pastoral work in the missions of Nicaragua before returning to Guatemala to continue hospital administration and health education. From 1997-1998, she was asked to work on the Maryknoll Sisters Guatemala History Project.

Sr. Jean returned to the Rogers Community at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY in 1999 where she did volunteer work and continued to work on the Guatemala history project. Due to delicate health she retired in 2006. She died peacefully on the morning of January 16, 2017.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Jean on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at Maryknoll Sisters Center. A funeral Mass will follow on Friday, January 20, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center. Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

 

Sister Mary Edna Brophy, Maryknoll Sister for 60 Years

Posted on January 17, 2017

Sister Mary Edna Brophy, Maryknoll Sister for 60 Years Dies

 Brophy, Mary Edna

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Mary Edna Brophy, missioner to Hong Kong died on January 13, 2017 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, in Maryknoll, NY. She was 90 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 60 years.

She was born in Blackie, Alberta, Canada on January 23, 1926 to Veronica and George Brophy. She received the name Mary Edna at baptism. She had two brothers, Joseph and Edward and three sisters, Ursaula, Mary Ada, and Agnes.  Her parents and siblings have predeceased her. Mary Edna attended Wingham High School, in Wingham, Ontario, Canada from 1940 to 1945. Her fifth year of high school was equivalent to first year university in the United States. After graduation from high school she went into nurses training at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada and obtained her R.N. in 1948.  She continued her nursing career at St. Michael’s Hospital until March 1955, and worked for three months at Mercy Hospital, Orlando, FL before entering the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (now St. Timothy’s) Toronto, on September 2, 1955.  At her reception of the habit she received the religious name Sister M. Frances John.  After Vatican Council II, she returned to using her baptismal name, Mary Edna.

She made her First Profession of Vows on June 24, 1958 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.   That same year she was assigned to Hong Kong where, after studying the Chinese language for one year, she served as a Lab Assistant in Physics and Chemistry at the Maryknoll Convent School in Hong Kong.  On June 24, 1964 she pronounced her Final Vows.  From 1965-1976, Sr. Mary Edna was the Administrator of Caritas Center Clinic in the Ngua Tau Kok area of Hong Kong while also giving In-Service Training to Nurses Aides, teaching Health, and running Well-Baby/Nutrition/ Dental Clinics.

From 1977-1979, she worked at the Maryknoll Sisters Health Services in Maryknoll, NY, after which she attended Clinical Pastoral Training in Toronto. Upon her return to Hong Kong she took a refresher course in the Chinese language and from 1980-1989 served in various roles at Maryknoll Hospital, Caritas Social Centre, Community Nursing Services, Staff Nurse and Pastoral Service. From 1989-1992, she again worked at the Maryknoll Sisters Health Services in Maryknoll, NY.

She returned to Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong where she set up Pastoral Ministry Services in two large government hospitals:  Kwong Wah and Kowloon Hospitals where she worked until 2004.  She returned to Maryknoll, NY to give service as a Pastoral Team member at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.  From 2005-2012 she volunteered as a Social Services Assistant, until she retired. Sister Mary Edna she died on January 13, 2017 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.   Typical of her life long desire to serve others, she donated her body to science.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Mary on January 25 at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.  A funeral Mass will follow on March 10 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

 

 

Sister Margaret Lyons, Maryknoll Sister for 69 Years

Posted on January 5, 2017

Sister Margaret Lyons, Maryknoll Sister for 69 Years
Maryknoll, NY: Sister Margaret Lyons, missioner to Chile and El Salvador, died on January 3, 2017 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, in Maryknoll, NY. She was 95 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 69 years.

She was born in South Boston, MA on March 16, 1921 to Margaret Mary (Davitt) Lyons and John Joseph Lyons. She received the name Marjorie Ann at baptism. She had two brothers, John J. and Paul and three sisters, Dorothy, Elizabeth and Marie. Her parents and siblings have predeceased her. Marjorie Ann graduated from No. Quincy High, in No. Quincy, MA in 1939. After graduating high school she worked at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Boston from 1939 to 1947.

Marjorie Ann entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation from Sacred Heart Parish, No. Quincy, MA in the Archdiocese of Boston on September 6, 1947 at the “Venard” the Maryknoll Preparatory Seminary in Pennsylvania. She received her religious habit six months later at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and received the religious name Sister Margaret John. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7, 1950 and her Final Vows three years later both at Maryknoll Sisters Center. She was assigned to work in the Treasurer’s Office, and in 1952 to the Booking Department at the FIELD AFAR office (now the Maryknoll Magazine). From 1954 to 1957 she studied at the Maryknoll Teacher’s College and graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree. In 1957, she was assigned to her first overseas mission in Chile, South America where she worked for 24 years in parish elementary and high schools. From 1971 until 1984, she worked in poor squatter areas of Chile, with other Sisters, helping to train leaders and forming basic Christian Communities.

In 1984, Sister Margaret was called back to the Maryknoll Sisters Center to serve as Assistant Treasurer until 1988. She was then assigned to El Salvador, Central America where she did pastoral work until 2004. She was then assigned to Monrovia, CA where she did volunteer work at the Monrovia Civic Community. She returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center to retire in 2006.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Margaret on January 6 at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. A funeral Mass will follow on January 7 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Memorial Video for Sister Margaret Lyons
 

Sister Stephanie Marie Nakagawa, Maryknoll Sister for 74 Years

Posted on October 24, 2016

Sister Stephanie Marie Nakagawa, Maryknoll Sister for 74 Years

 

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Stephanie Marie Nakagawa died on October 17, 2016 in at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY after a short illness. She was 94 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 74 years.

Sister Stephanie Marie was born on September 23, 1922 in Seattle, WA to parents Magdalen and Stephen Nakagawa. She was baptized as Helen Marie Yasuyo. She had one brother named Francis and one sister named Margaret. Her parents and brother have predeceased her.

In 1940, she graduated from Immaculate High School in Seattle, WA. She then joined the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation, on December 8, 1941 from Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Seattle, administered by the Maryknoll Fathers at that time. At her reception she received the religious name, Sister Stephanie Marie. She made her First Profession of Vows on June 30, 1944 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on June 30, 1947, also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

From 1943 to 1947 while staying at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, she earned a Bachelor of Education degree at the Maryknoll Teachers College. After graduation that same year, she was assigned to Hawaii. From there she was sent to Wailuku on the island of Maui where she taught for ten years at St. Anthony Grade School.

In 1961, Sister Stephanie Marie was assigned to Kyoto, Japan where she supervised a hostel for college students. In 1965, she moved to Yokkaichi, Japan, where she spent the next 31 years teaching English to juniors and seniors at the Maryknoll Girls School. She also gave private English lessons in the local community and in parish English programs.

During those years, she also took many courses in speech, special education, and teaching English as a second language at the University of Hawaii, Kyoto University Graduate School, and Georgetown University Graduate School. In 1976, she earned a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Hawaii.

In 1996, Sister Stephanie Marie returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY where she gave service to elderly Maryknoll Sisters. In1998, she returned to Japan, to teach English at Yokkaichi Junior High and informal English classes at the Maryknoll Convent in Matsugasaki, Kyoto.

In 2002 Sister Stephanie Marie returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY where she again gave service to elderly Maryknoll Sisters.

Sister Stephanie Marie died on October 17, 2016 and generously donated her body to science.

A Vespers Service will be held on Thursday, October 27th in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 28th at 11:00 A.M., also in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.

 

 

Sister Marie de Lourdes Nassauer, Maryknoll Sister for 69 Years

Posted on October 24, 2016

Sister Marie de Lourdes Nassauer, Maryknoll Sister for 69 Years

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Marie de Lourdes Nassauer died on October 17, 2016 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, in Maryknoll, NY. She was 86 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 69 years.

Sister Marie was born on January 19, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY to parents Eva and Stuart Nassauer. She was baptized as Marie de Lourdes. She had two brothers, and one sister. Her parents, her sister Joan and her brother Fred have all predeceased her; but, her brother Stuart Nassauer of East Hampton, NY survives her.

In 1947, she graduated from Seton Hall High School, Patchogue, NY. She then joined the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation, on September 6, 1947 from St. Lawrence Parish in Rockville Centre Diocese, NY. At her Reception, she was given the religious name, Sister Mary Frederick. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7, 1950 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on March 7, 1953, also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

From 1949-1953, while staying at the Maryknoll Sisters Center she earned a Bachelor of Education Degree from Maryknoll Teachers College.

In 1953, after her Final Vows, Sister Marie was assigned to teach in St. Ann’s Primary School in Louis, MO. In 1956, she was assigned to Maryknoll Primary School in Los Angeles, CA. A couple of years later, in 1958, she received her first overseas assignment to Chile, South America where she worked among the needy with primary school children in parish schools. In 1973, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center to serve in the Personnel Department for two years.

After earning her Licensed Practical Nursing Degree (LPN) in 1976, Sister Marie returned to Talca, Chile to use her newly acquired nursing skills to minister to the sick. In 1979, the Maryknoll Sisters Chile Region opened a new mission in Salamanca, Chile; where she engaged in pastoral work until 1991.

Sister Marie also served as a Regional Council Member on the Maryknoll Sisters Chile Regional Governing Board from 1987 -1989. She also served as Administrator of the Chile Region’s Center House in Santiago from 1991 to 1995. In 1996, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center where she volunteered as assistant sacristan until 2006 and in the center library until 2014.

In 2015, due to failing health, Sister Marie retired to the Maryknoll Sisters Home Care Unit in the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Sister Marie died on October 17, 2016 and generously donated her body to science.

A Wake and Vespers Service will be held in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY on November 3, 2016 at 4:15 P.M

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on November 4, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. also in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.

Sister Roseanne Ong, Maryknoll Sister for 53 Years

Posted on October 3, 2016

Sister Roseanne Ong, Maryknoll Sister for 53 Years
ong
Maryknoll, NY: Maryknoll Sister, Roseanne Ong, died on September 25, 2016, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She was 76 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 53 years.

Maxima Corazon Ong was born on May 16, 1940 in Manila, Philippines to Uy Bun Ti (mother) and Kim Siong Ong (father). She had three brothers, and five Sisters.

Maxima graduated from Maryknoll, High School Manila, Philippines in 1957. In 1961, she graduated from the University of East, Manila receiving a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Quezon City, Manila from St. John the Baptist Parish, Manila on June 1, 1963. She received the religious name, Sister Rosanne, at her reception, a name she retained throughout her life.

Sister Roseanne made her First Profession of Vows on March 19, 1966 in Quezon City and her Final Vows on the same date in1970 in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental. Following her religious profession, Sister Rosanne was assigned to a variety of mission ministries in her home country, the Phillipines. She served as Secretary to the high school principal of Maryknoll College, then as Regional Procurator for the Maryknoll Sisters in the Philippine Region, and in 1969 was appointed Principal of the high school department at the College of St. John the Baptist in Jimenez.

In May of 1971, Sister Rosanne came to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in New York for a renewal program and in September, she left for her new mission assignment to Tanzania in East Africa.

After language study, she served on the faculty at the Nyegezi Social Training Center and in the Business Studies Department. In 1979, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center for Congregational Service, where her training and expertise in business administration were invaluable to the community. While serving in Congregational Services, she secured her American citizenship. In February, 1998 Sister Rosanne returned to Tanzania and taught bookkeeping and mathematics at the Murigha Girls Secondary School in Singida. In March 2001, she became an Assistant Manager/Academic Officer and Matron of the GOIG (Getting Old is to Grow) Vocational Handicraft Centre in Dar es Salaam.

The Mass of Christian Burial, attended by the Maryknoll Sisters of the Region and many friends was celebrated on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Sister Agnes Mary McLean, Maryknoll Missioner to Japan

Posted on September 8, 2016

Sister Agnes Mary McLean, Maryknoll Missioner to Japan
Maryknoll, NY: Sister Agnes Mary McLean, missioner to Japan died on September 6, 2016 in the Maryknoll Sisters’ Center, at Maryknoll, NY. She was 91 years old and would have been a Maryknoll Sister for 70 years on October 5, 2016.

She was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on February 25, 1925 to Agnes Veronica (McHugh) McLean and Arthur William McLean. She received the name Mildred at baptism. She had three brothers, John, George and Edward; the latter two were priests and one sister, Agnes. Her parents and two brothers John and George have predeceased her. Her brother Edward passed away on September 6, 2016 only a few hours after Sr. Agnes Mary. Mildred graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame, Tyngsboro, MA in 1942. During the summers of 1940 –1941 she attended Bradshaw Business College in Lowell, MA. After high school she attended Salem State Teachers College from 1942 –1946 when she obtained a Bachelors or Science in Education.

Mildred entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation from St. Margaret’s Parish, Lowell, MA in the Archdiocese of Boston on October 5, 1946 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY. At her Reception, she received the religious name Sister Agnes Mary, which she retained throughout her religious life. She made her First Profession of Vows on April 6, 1949 in Ossining, NY and was assigned to Kyoto, Japan where she did her language study. She made her Final Profession of Vows on April 6, 1952 in Kyoto.

After three months of language study, Sr. Agnes Mary’s ministries included catechetical work in Tsu, Japan for a year. In 1951 she worked as a secretary in Kyoto before going back to catechetical work in Otsu and Ise Shi parishes until 1958 when she returned to the United States until 1963. During that time she studied Canon Law at Fontbonne, in St. Louis, MO and was Postulant Mistress for one year at the Sisters’ Valley Park Novitiate in Missouri. She returned to Japan in 1963 to the Maryknoll Girls School in Yokkaichi where she taught high school English and Typing. She also taught private English lessons to business men, and classes to teachers in government schools and in Tsu at Mie (National) University during the years 1963 to 1997. The following years in Japan were dedicated to visiting the sick and elderly until her return to the U.S when she was assigned to the Eden Community at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY on April 1, 2008.

Sister Agnes Mary died at the Maryknoll Sisters Center on September 6, 2016.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Agnes Mary on September 8th at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. A funeral Mass will follow on September 9th at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center. Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Sister Katherine Mary Mallon, Maryknoll Sister for 67 Years

Posted on September 8, 2016

Sister Katherine Mary Mallon, Maryknoll Sister for 67 Years
Maryknoll, NY: Sister Katherine Mallon M.M. died peacefully after a long illness on August 24, 2016 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY. She was 88 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 67 years.

Katherine was born in New Rochelle, NY, October 13, 1927 to Mary Webber Mallon and Frank G. Mallon. She had one brother, John, and one sister, Margaret. Her parents, her brother and sister have all predeceased her.

Katherine graduated from St. Gabriel’s High School, New Rochelle in 1947. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation from Blessed Sacrament Parish, New Rochelle in the Archdiocese of New York on September 6. At her Reception, she received the religious name Sister Walter Marie. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7, 1951 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. She remained at the center to give service at the Maryknoll Society Seminary, the Sisters’ Center kitchens and with the Sisters’ Promotion Department. In 1956, she was assigned to study nursing for her L.P.N. at Queen of the World Hospital in Kansas City, MO. She made her Final Profession of Vows on March 7, 1954 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Sr. Katherine was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters’ T.B. Hospital in Monrovia, CA in 1957 where she was recognized for her excellent nursing skills. In 1968, she was sent to Mexico City for language and culture study after which she went to Jacaltenango Hospital in the Department of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. During the next 30 years, 1968 to 1998 she served the indigenous people of Guatemala— with the exception of three years when she returned to Maryknoll to serve in the Residential Care Unit—doing nursing in rural public health, maternity unit in the hospital, outpatient care, teaching public health in villages which included pre and post natal care, a nutrition center for mal-nourished children, and ministering to AIDS patients and their families.

Failing health necessitated her return to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in 2005, where she was a patient in the Maryknoll Sisters Home Care Unit.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Katherine, Monday, August 29 at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. A funeral Mass will follow on Tuesday, August 30 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the center grounds.