Maryknoll, NY: Sister Mary Patricia Norton a nurse, teacher, and social worker died on December 1^st, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.  She was 94 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 76 years.

Patricia was born in Milwaukee, WI on January 4^th, 1928 to Harry Norton and Marion (Ducey) Norton. She had three brothers: Robert, Michael, and Terence. Her brother Robert has pre-deceased her.

In 1945, Patricia graduated from Holy Angels Academy in Milwaukee, WI. She then studied at Marquette University from 1945 – 1946 before entering the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on October 5^th, 1946.

Patricia continued her studies after entering the Novitiate, she attended Maryknoll Teachers College in 1947 and from 1948-1952 studied at the College of Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale, NY where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing.

On April 6^th, 1949 she made her First Profession of Vows at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on April 6^th, 1952 also at the Sisters’ Center.

In 1952, Sister Patricia received her first overseas mission assignment to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) where she worked as a Nursing Supervisor in a government hospital in Kandy and later as a head nurse in Kundasale.  From 1962 – 1963, she returned to Maryknoll, NY to work at Bethany House, the Sisters’ nursing home.

In 1964, after earning her Master’s Degree in Surgical Nursing at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. she was assigned to Pusan, Korea where she served as Dean at the Maryknoll Junior College of Nursing. From 1966-1977, Sister Patricia led a nursing instruction team and was then Director and Chairperson of the Board of Public Health Cooperative in Hupo from 1978-1981.

In 1982, she returned to Maryknoll, NY once again this time to serve as Director of Nursing Services at the Sisters’ Nursing Home from 1982-1984.  Returning to Seoul, Korea in 1985, her ministry changed to social services and pastoral care with young women factory workers until 1995.

In 1996, Sister Patricia relocated to Jilin Province in China where she taught English as a second language until 2003 when she returned again to Seoul, Korea and re-entered the medical ministry as a Physical Therapist. There, she was one of two Maryknoll Sisters who founded the Miriam Center for Migrant Workers, which was recognized as one of the best practices of social integration in action by the U.N.’s Non-Governmental Committee on Social Development in 2010.

In 2006, Sister Patricia was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters retirement house in Monrovia, CA where she was involved in many volunteer projects and served as house clinic nurse.  In 2018, she retired at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

Funeral Services:

Sister Patricia generously donated her body to science.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Maria Norma Valdemoro, teacher and pastoral care worker died on November 28th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 87 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 56 years.

Norma was born in Baleno, Masbate Province in the Philippines, to Filomeno Valdemoro and Amada (Laurio) Valdemoro.   She had four brothers: Huberto, Jose, Herminio and Rev. Filomino and four sisters: Teresita, Linda, Nimfa and Purita. Her brothers Hermino and Rev. Filomino have pre-deceased her.

In 1953 Norma graduated from Aroroy High School in Aroroy, Philippines. She then studied at Bicol Teachers College in Legaspi City, Philippines from 1953 – 1957 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.  After graduation she worked as a teacher from 1959 – 1965 with the Bureau of Public Schools in Aroroyo and then at Maryknoll High School from 1965 – 1966.

On June 26, 1966 she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Quezon City, Philippines. She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on June 22^nd, 1969 in Quezon City before moving to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, New York. Then she pronounced her Final Profession of Vows on September 2^nd, 1972 in Chile.  In 1970, Sister Norma received her Master’s Degree in Education from Abad Santos Educational Institute in Manila, Philippines and later that year she was assigned to Chile, South America. After language study in Cochabamba, Bolivia she relocated to Talcahuano, Chile and taught in the parish elementary school from 1971-1972.  During this time, Sister Norma also conducted retreats for youth, taught religious education in the grade school and served as an advisor to youth leaders in the Parish Confirmation program from 1973-1979.

In 1980, she returned to the Philippines for one year to do mission education and then was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY in 1981 to work in the Congregation’s Treasury Department until 1984.  She then spent 10 months at the Maryknoll Sisters Cloister before returning to Santiago, Chile in 1984.  After several months helping with administration in the Sisters’ Regional Center House and taking a course in family catechetics, Sister Norma moved to the Pudahuel section of Santiago in 1985 where she did pastoral work with basic Christian communities and led a support group for women until 1993. In 1994, she moved to a settlement in northern Santiago where she worked among the urban poor doing pastoral ministry with young married couples and training lay people for leadership roles in their local parish.

In 2010, Sister Norma returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to retire, where she remained until her death.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Norma on Monday, December 5^th_, 2022 at 4:15 P.M. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, December 6^th, 2022 also in the Chapel of the Annunciation.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Marlene Louise Condon, M.M. died on October 9^th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 89 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 67 years.

Marlene was born in Montevideo, MN on October 18^th, 1932, to Frank Condon and Theresa (Rhode) Condon. She had two brothers, Douglas and Frank. Her brother Douglas has pre-deceased her.

Marlene attended Central High School, Montevideo, MN and graduated in 1950. She studied at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN from 1950-1953, where she received her Nursing Degree.

She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at Valley Park, MO on February 1^st, 1955 at St. Joseph Parish in New Ulm Diocese, MN. Marlene pronounced her First Vows on September 8^th, 1957 at Valley Park and her Final Vows on September 7^th, 1963 in Chile. In 1958 she was assigned to Queen of the World Hospital in Kansas City, MO, where she worked as a Nursing Supervisor.

In 1960 Sister Marlene received her first overseas assignment to Chile, South America. After a year of language study, she worked as a parish school nurse in Buzeta, a poverty-stricken area outside of Santiago. From March-December of 1964 Sister Marlene revalidated her nursing title at Catholic University of Chile, Santiago.

Once Marlene finished revalidating her nursing title she moved to the town of Pemuco. In 1969, she moved to the city of Hualpencillo where she served as a member on the Regional Formal Education Team and as a member of the Public Health team in government clinics until 1974. During that time, she also worked at a rehabilitation facility for alcoholics and did parish work.

From January-June of 1975 Sister Marlene attended Mayo School of Health Related Sciences in Rochester, NY where she earned a certificate as Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

In 1975 she returned to Haulpencillo, Chile this time to serve as a public health nurse. For this role, she supervised student nurses and taught health education in public schools and within the local community.  On top of all of this she was also doing part-time work in the parish until the year of 1979.

In 1980 Sister Marlene returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Service where she served in the Sisters Nursing Home for three years.

In 1984 she returned to Chile where she did Community Health Nursing, taught health education, did pastoral work with Basic Christian Communities, and did service at a medicine bank for people unable to pay full price for medication. During these years, she was also active in Congregational positions and in 1990 was elected to serve as Vice President of the Congregation where she remained for six years.

In 1997 she was assigned to El Manatial, Flores, Guatemala where she worked on an AIDS Project until 2005. Then in 2006 she moved to Pajapita, San Marcos to assist in the opening of St. Mary’s Hospice for HIV patients.

In 2017 Sister Marlene returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she lived until her death. As a last act of service to humanity she has generously willed her body to science.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service was held for Sister Marlene on Wednesday, October 12^th, 2022 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of the Resurrection was held on Thursday, October 13^th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Barbara Frances Barr, M.M. died on August 27^th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 94 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 75 years.

Barbara was born in Ancon, Canal Zone, the Republic of Panama on August 12^th, 1928, to Robert Barr and Mary Frances (Westberg) Barr. She had one sister, Helen and four brothers, Thomas, John, Francis and Peter; all of whom have pre-deceased her..

Barbara attended Balboa High School, and graduated in 1946. She then studied at the Canal Zone Junior College from 1945 – 1947, where she obtained an Associate of Arts Degree. She did this while working as a cashier for the Panama Canal Company. She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 6^th, 1947 from Sacred Heart Parish in Panama City.

Sister Barbara pronounced her First Vows on March 7^th, 1950 in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows, three years later on March 7^th, 1953 in Bolivia. From 1949-1952, she continued her studies at the Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY) where she earned a Bachelor of Education Degree. Her first overseas mission assignment was to Bolivia in 1952. There she studied Spanish in Cochabamba for six months and in 1953 was assigned to Guayamarin to serve as a substitute Principal for six months. She then transferred to San José and Riberalta in the Beni vicariate of Bolivia to teach short hand, typing and English to students.

In 1955 she was assigned to Lima, Peru where she taught 5^th grade until 1959. In 1959 she returned to Cochabamba, Bolivia and taught 3^rd grade at Santa Ana Parish School. During this time, she also taught High School Art until 1964. She then relocated to Cobija to teach 6^th grade and was also in charge of the Youth Club for two years. In 1966 she returned again to Riberalta, Bolivia to serve as Principal of the Parish Primary School where she remained for the next four years.

In 1970 Sister Barbara returned to the United States where she did mission education and promotion work in Texas and Chicago for two years. She then went back to Guayarmarin, Beni, Bolivia where she served as the Primary School Principal. While there, she also worked with the Parent Teachers Association and began to do teacher training until 1979.

In 1979 Sister Barbara was assigned to Santa Cruz, Bolivia where she worked with Maryknoll’s “Evangelization by Radio” for rural areas, writing scripts for the programs and assisting in their production department until 1984. She was also doing religious formation in public high schools during this time. From 1984-1987, she served  in Montero, Department of Santa Cruz, working on the Rural Pastoral Project. In 1988 she began working with CEPRIFEM (Center for Integral Promotion of Rural Women).

In 1990 Sister Barbara returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to work in the Communication’s Office as a writer for three years and served on the Congregation’s Center Council before returning to Santa Cruz, Bolivia to again work with CEPRIFEM until 1998.  She then retired to the Maryknoll Sisters Center where she worked as Mail Desk Supervisor in the Development Department until 2005. She remained at the Maryknoll Sisters Center until her death.

Funeral Service:

A Vespers Service will be held on Thursday, September 1^st, 2022 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Friday, September 2^nd, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. Burial will follow in the Sisters cemetery.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Rose Corde McCormick, M.M. educator and pastoral care worker died on July 31^st, 2022 at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. She was 98 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 69 years.

Rose was born in Providence, RI on August 30^th, 1923 to William McCormick and Rose (Coyle) McCormick. She had two sisters, Agnes and Helen and two brothers, Thomas and William, all of whom have pre-deceased her.

In 1940, Rose graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Providence, RI. Before entering the Congregation, she was employed by the New England Telephone Company from 1939-1953 and then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 2^nd, 1953. At her reception into the Congregation, she received the religious name, Sister Rose Corde. She pronounced her First Vows on March 7^th, 1956 in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on March 7^th, 1962 in Japan.

From 1956-1957, she worked as a staff member at the Maryknoll Magazine Office for The Field Afar, (now known as the Maryknoll Magazine), before being assigned to serve as Secretary to the Vicar General of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers until 1959.

Sister Rose Corde received her first overseas mission assignment to Japan in 1959. Upon her arrival, she completed language study in Kyoto and then served as Parish Minister in several different communities from 1961-1964. She then returned to Kyoto where she taught English and worked in Congregational Administration until 1968.  That same year she returned to Maryknoll, NY to continue her education and in just three years she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mary Rogers College located at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

Sister Rose Corde went back to Japan to teach English and Christian Ethics at the Yokkachi Girls School. During this time, she also taught English to adults in the local communities from 1971-1976. She then returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she managed the Congregation’s Direct Mail Office from 1977-1979.

In 1980, she accepted an invitation to teach at St. Mary’s School on the Island of Yap, Micronesia, in the Central Pacific. She later became Principal where she served until 1992. Then in 1995 she went to Honolulu, Hawaii to serve as the Sisters’ regional secretary and bookkeeper.

In 1996, Sister Rose Corde found herself once again at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she was appointed Director of Pastoral Care in the Sisters residential care unit until 1999. Later that year she was assigned to Oaxaca, Mexico where she taught English and did pastoral work with women until 2003.

Sister Rose Corde then returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she remained an active volunteer. She spent her time serving as a sacristan in the main chapel and as a companion to ill and elderly Sisters, until she fully retired in 2019.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Rose Corde on Monday, August 8^th, 2022 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, August 9^th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. Burial will follow in the Sisters cemetery.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Teresa Ann Lilly, M.M. died on July 25^th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 94 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 66 years.

Teresa was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 28^th, 1927, to Joseph Lilly and (Norton) Lilly. She had one brother, J. Francis Lilly, who has pre-deceased her.

From 1941-1945, Teresa attended St. Agnes Academy, College Point, NY where she was a member of the Leo Honor Society. After graduation she began nurse training at St. Catherine’s Hospital, Brooklyn, NY where she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1948.  She continued working on the nursing staff at St. Catherine’s for the next eight years, during that time she also studied at St. John’s University in Brooklyn.

On September 2^nd, 1956, Teresa entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate, Maryknoll, NY. She pronounced her First Vows on June 24^th, 1959 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on June 24^th, 1965 in Guatemala, Central America.

In 1960 she received her first overseas mission assignment to Guatemala and after six months of language study at Monte Maria she moved to San Pedro Necta where she did clinic work from 1961-1968. She then relocated to Ilopango, San Salvador where she worked with adult groups to aid the development of Basic Christian Communities until 1973.

In 1974, Sister Teresa returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she worked in the Congregation’s Development Department doing mission education and promotion work for two years. In 1976 she was assigned back to Guatemala where she worked on the Diocesan Level of women formation in the town of San Pedro Sacatepéquez until 1982. From there, she went to Santa Elena, El Petén, a jungle area, working in women formation in another Diocese from 1982 – 1986. Once again she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY in 1986 where she worked in Congregational Health Services until 1989.

For the last time Sister Teresa returned to Guatemala where she continued to work with women’s groups and aid with the development of Basic Christian Communities in El Milagro and San Jose until 2004.

Sister Teresa then retired and was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters Retirement House in Monrovia, CA where she did volunteer work in “Rainbows End” and “Foothill Unity” clothing distribution until 2012.  In 2013 she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY, where she remained until her death.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Teresa on August 1^st at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on August 2^nd at 10:00 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Maryknoll Sister, Sr. Mary Dolores Mitch, M.M. died on June 30^th, 2022 in San Diego, CA. She was 85 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 62 years.

Dolores was born on January 9^th, 1937 in Missoula, MT, to Ernest Mitch and Anna (Kering) Mitch.  She had three brothers, Arnold, Joseph and Ernest and one sister, Anne Elizabeth, all of whom have pre-deceased her.

In 1955 Dolores graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Missoula, MT and later that year studied at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. From 1957-1958 she studied at Montana State University and entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at Valley Park, MO on December 30^th, 1958 (from her home parish, St. Francis Xavier in the Diocese of Helena, MT).

She made her First Profession of Vows on August 22th, 1961 in Valley Park, MO and her Final Profession of Vows on August 22nd, 1967 in the Philippines. From 1962 – 1963, she attended classes at Fordham University in NYC, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English while also teaching at Mary Rogers College located at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.

In 1963 Sister Dolores received her first overseas mission assignment to the Philippines where she taught Religion and English at Our Lady of the Rosary School in Lipa City until 1967. She then transferred to the Maryknoll High School in Santo Tomás/Davao del Norte to teach. From 1969 -1974, she worked in administration at Santo Tomás while also studying for a Master’s Degree in Education at Ateneo De Manila University.

She then returned to the U.S. to serve in the Congregation’s Development Department doing mission education and promotion work in Chicago and the Mid-West until 1976. Sister Dolores returned to the Philippines in 1977 to serve as Supervisor of Teacher Training at Notre Dame University in Cotabato City until 1980.  From 1980 -1984, she worked at Notre Dame of Jolo, as Chairperson of the Education Department and taught English and Psychology. She then served in Davao City from 1984-1989 on the staff of the Sisters Association in Mindanao and as Executive Secretary.

In 1990 Sister Dolores returned to the U.S. to serve in the Congregation’s Development Department once again doing mission education and promotion work but this time on the West Coast until 1993. After a short period of renewal and study at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY Sister Dolores returned to the Philippines in 1994 where she led journal workshops in Quezon City and Baguio City until 2005.

In 2006, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she worked in the Congregational Vocation Office. She was then assigned as Communications Manager for the Development Department in 2007 and served in this role until 2011 when she retired. While retired she spent her time providing aid to the elderly and infirm Sisters at the Center.

In 2013 Sister Dolores relocated to the Maryknoll Sisters Retirement Home in Monrovia, CA where she remained active with volunteer work until her death.

Funeral Services: 

A Vesper Service will be held on Wednesday, July 27th, 2022, at 4:15 p.m. Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, July 28th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Rita Marie Keegan, M.M. died on June 2^nd, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 88 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 65 years.

Rita was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin on September 11^th, 1934 to Raymond Keegan and Eulalia (Flannery) Keegan.  She had three sisters, Sally, Maureen and Patricia and one brother, Roy. She is survived by Sally, Maureen and Roy.

In 1952, Rita graduated from Richland Center High School. She then studied at Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois from 1952-1956 where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Speech Therapy. After graduation she taught in a grade school for one year before entering the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 2^nd, 1957 (from her home parish, St. Mary in the Diocese of La Crosse, WI.)  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on June 24^th, 1960 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and made her Final Profession of Vows on June 24^th, 1966 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, South America.

Sister Rita’s first mission assignment was to teach at St. Anthony’s Grade School in the Bronx, NY from 1960-1965. During this time she was also involved in community organizing. In 1965, she received her first overseas mission assignment to Bolivia where she studied the Spanish language in Cochabamba for one year. She then went to Montero to teach and work in community services.

From 1969-1978, she was in Santa Cruz doing community development, adult education and leadership training among Bolivians who had migrated from the country’s Andes mountains to the tropical lowlands. From 1978-1980, Sister Rita studied theology at the Catholic Theological Union, did community organizing and studied group and organizational processes with the National Training Institute.

In 1984, after the tragic deaths of her four team members in a flash flood, Sister Rita left Bolivia and returned to Maryknoll, NY to grieve and serve in the Congregational Personnel Department from 1985-1988.  She then decided to continue her studies from 1988-1990 and attend San Jose State University in San Jose, CA where she earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work.

Shen then transferred to the Western U.S. Region and began working as a drug and alcohol counselor at the VA Palo Alto Health Care Center in Palo Alto, CA for three years and then as a Clinical Supervisor in a residential treatment center for addicts in Ontario, OR for ten years. In 2000, Sister Rita finished her work as Clinical Supervisor, but remained active as a member of the Board of Directors. She also remained very active with volunteer work in Ontario for years to come: From 2001-2004 she did private counseling with Hispanic women’s groups, from 2005-2006 she participated in women and parent groups at a Headstart Program, from 2007-2009 served as Clinical Supervisor in a Residential Treatment Program, Member of Board of Directors for Alcohol Recovery Program, Member of Oregon State wide Hispanic Program for Drug and Alcohol Treatment, member of a twelve step program, in 2010 did consult work with persons aiding others with drug and alcohol issues and from 2008 through the next several years provided counseling services at the State Men’s Prison and at the Four Rivers Clinic.

In 2020, Sister Rita returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to retire.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers service was held on June 6th, at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on June 7th at 3:00 P.M., also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Joan Frances Delaney, M.M. died on April 28^th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 92 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 70 years.

Joan was born in Yonkers, New York on March 31^st, 1930, to Patrick Delaney and Catherine (Manning) Delaney. She had one sister, Kathleen and one brother, Gerald, both of whom have pre-deceased her.

In 1948, Joan graduated from Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, CT.  Following graduation, she went to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT, where she studied Sociology and Economics, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1952.

She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, New York on September 2^nd, 1952. She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1955 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1961, in Hong Kong.

In 1955 Sister Joan received her first mission assignment to Hong Kong in the South China Region where she taught from 1955 – 1963. During this time she also continued her education at Hong Kong University, there she received a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 1958. From 1963 – 1966, she served as Superior in Kowloontong. She then transferred to the University of London and received a Master’s Degree in Education in 1968. Sister Joan returned to Hong Kong to serve as a member of the Regional Governing Board in Programming and Planning and was elected as Regional Due Process Moderator from 1971-1973.

In 1974 she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to serve as a Delegate at the Congregation’s General Assembly. In 1976 she travelled to Rome where she worked on SEDOS (Service of Document and Study) for the next several years until 1980.

From 1982 – 1983, Sister Joan served in Washington, D.C. with CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate). Then in 1983 she went to the Overseas Ministry Study Center where she studied French for 9 months (1995 – 1996).  To reward her for her academic achievements, Albertus Magnus College awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 1987. She then received a special assignment to Geneva, Switzerland and was appointed by Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Council of Christian Unity in order to work as the Catholic consultant on mission to the World Council of Churches from 1984-1990. In 1990 she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to serve as Director of Mission Research until 1994.

Sister Joan attended OMSC (Overseas Ministries Study Center at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ) from 1995-1996. She then joined the Maryknoll Sisters community in West Haven, Ct from 1997-2001. She also served as the Administrator of the Center for Global Ministries at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago from 2002-2007 and was a Delegate for the USCCB (U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) as well as Christian Churches Together from 2005-2012.

In 2007, Sister Joan was assigned to the Sisters retirement house in Monrovia, CA where she served as a Coordinating Team Member for two years. In 2013 she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she remained until her death.

Funeral Services:

 A Vespers service will be held for Sister Joan on May 4^th at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on May 5^th at 10:00 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. Due to Covid-19, these services will be restricted to members of the Maryknoll Sisters Community.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Cecilia Santos, M.M. died on March 18^th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 75 years.

Cecilia was born in Paia, Maui, Hawaii on January 30^th, 1929, to Manuel Santos and Alexa (Gouveia) Santos.  She had one sister, nine brothers and a foster brother and sister; all of whom have pre-deceased her.

In 1947, she graduated from St. Anthony’s Girls High School in Wailuku, HI.  After graduation she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY on August 18^th, 1947 from (St. Joseph Parish, Maui of the Honolulu Diocese, HI).

On March 7^th,1950 she pronounced her First Profession of Vows and her Final Profession of Vows three years later on March 7^th, 1953, at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

Sister Cecilia then earned a Bachelor of Education Degree from Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center) in 1954 and later that year was assigned to teach in Maryknoll Sisters’ Schools in Hawaii until 1962. She then received her first overseas mission assignment to Chile, South America.

Her mission journey in Chile began with a year of studying the Spanish language in the village of Pucón. She then taught in grade schools subsidized by the government in very poor areas as well as parishes ministered by the Maryknoll Fathers. From 1963-1966, Sister Cecilia was in Santiago and then assigned to the rural town of Curepto where she served as Principal of a Parish School until 1968.  She then moved further south to the city of Chillán where she taught 4^th grade until 1971.  For a brief period from June 1971 through January 1972 she returned to Waikiki, HI and taught 4^th grade.  However, in 1972 she returned to Chillán, Chile to teach 6^th grade until 1976.  During those years spent in Chillán she also did home visiting, taught bible study classes and provided guidance to mothers who were preparing their children to receive their first Holy Communion.

In 1976 Sister Cecilia returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to work in Supportive Services until 1978.  She then joined the Maryknoll Sisters Contemplative Community for one year until she returned to Chile once again in 1980. This time she was serving in the small town of Coelemu, where she served as a pastoral worker for the next 35 years! Her work included serving as: Chaplain of a 60 bed hospital, Director of the Parish Catechetical Department, Director of Basic Christian Communities, Coordinator of Eucharistic Ministers, leadership training, youth work, caring for the poor and needy, leading Sunday liturgies when the Parish Priest was elsewhere and much more.  In 1991 she was awarded the town’s citation of “Outstanding Neighbor” by the Mayor of Coelemu.

In 2015, Sister Cecilia returned to Maryknoll, NY and was assigned to the Central Pacific Region.  There she worked in the Sacred Heart Parish, in Honolulu, HI, volunteering two days a week in the parish food pantry and accompanying her elder sister who was ill.

In February of 2022 she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she remained until her death.

Funeral Services:

Sister Cecilia generously donated her body to science.

A Vespers service will be held on Monday, March 28^th, 2022 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, March 29^th, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Due to Co-vid 19, these services will be restricted to members of the Maryknoll Sisters Community.