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.