Maryknoll, NY: Sister Helen Carpenter died on August 18, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 90 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 71 years.

On July 31, 1934, Helen Teresa Carpenter was born in Worcester, MA to Helen (O’Rourke) Carpenter and Edward J. Carpenter.  She had six brothers and two sisters; all have predeceased her.  Many nieces and nephews survive her.

From 1948 to 1952, Sister Helen attended Ascension High School in Worcester, MA.  She graduated from the State Teachers College in 1953. In her first year at State Teachers College, she entered the Maryknoll Sisters at Maryknoll, NY on September 2, 1953 from her home parish of Our Lady of Fatima, Worcester.  She professed her First Vows on March 7, 1956 and her Final Vows on March 7, 1962 at Maryknoll, NY.  She earned her Bachelor of Education in 1961 from Maryknoll Teachers College.

Her first mission assignment was to the Transfiguration parish school in New York City where she taught the fifth grade.  In 1964, she received her first overseas assignment to Santiago, Chile as a Religion and English teacher until 1972.

After months of language school, she was sent to Buzeta, Chile, an outlying slum area of Santiago, to the Maryknoll parish school. There she was involved in the direction of religious formation, the preparation of students for sacraments, catechetical work and home visiting.

In 1978, Sister Helen came back to the States to give service at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in the Development Department.  She returned to Santiago, Chile to San Gabriel Parish in 1982, and she and Sr. Gerry Doiron opened a small wooden structure, which they named Casa Malen for the development of personal formation, mental health, pastoral support, and self-help and leadership groups for women.

After 46 years of dedicated mission life in Chile, Sister Helen made the difficult decision to retire and return to the Maryknoll Center in 2011.  She accepted her assignment to the Chi Rho community, volunteering her time and doing prayer ministry.  In 2015, she transferred to the Eden Community where she remained until her passing.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Helen Carpenter on Monday, August 26, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Margaret Hennessey died on July 30, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 94 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 77 years.

On March 13, 1930 Frances Margaret Hennessey was born in Flushing, NY to Frances (McNally) and John F. Hennessey.  She had two brothers and four sisters, all who have predeceased her.  Many nieces and nephews survive her.

From 1943 – 1947 Sister Margaret attended Bishop McDonnell High School in Brooklyn, NY.   She earned her R.N. degree at St. Catherine’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1953 in Brooklyn, NY. She  attended Mary Rogers College in 1971-1972 and received her Bachelor of Arts in Community Service.

She entered the Maryknoll Sisters at Valley Park, MO on October 31, 1947 from her home parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Brooklyn, NY.  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on May 8, 1950 in Valley Park and her Final Vows on May 8, 1953 in Maryknoll, NY.

In 1953, she received her first mission assignment to Cochabamba, Bolivia working in a parish clinic for three years. She then went to the jungle mission of Riberalta, Beni, Bolivia, where she worked in the Sisters’ hospital. In 1960 she was assigned to the town of Azangaro in the Altiplano of Peru, where she did home visiting and nursing in an outpatient clinic.  She moved to the town of Juli, Peru. There she continued nursing in a government clinic. In Juli she saw the need for health education and began to teach in the newly formed Instituto de Educacion Rural (IER) – the Rural Life Institute – located on the outskirts of Juli.

Returning to Peru in 1972, she continued her nursing and health education as well as the training of Health Promoters in the town of Ilave, also in the Altiplano.

In 1976, Peggy moved to Lima, Peru, where she, along with Maryknoll Father Tom Garrity, founded the Associacion Peruana de Misioneros (APM) – Peruvian Missionary Society, promoting the Peruvian lay missionary vocation and accompanying with formation and support. Together with the APM team, Peggy researched and help set up the first mission in Ayacucho, a place in the sierras of extreme poverty. In 1978, Peggy journeyed to Rome to represent APM at a worldwide gathering of Missionary Institutes. APM was the only institute from the Third World.

Peggy continued APM formation work for the next years based initially in our regional Center House in Lima, then San Juan de Miraflores across from Ciudad de Dios where our sisters were present, both located on the margins of Lima. In 1984, she moved to Villa El Salvador-Pachacamac continuing formation together with Maryknoll Father Marty Murphy while becoming active in the parish, nursing those afflicted with tuberculosis. While living in Pachacamac, some of her neighbors were afflicted with HIV/AIDS so she started to learn more about the disease. This led to becoming part of a pastoral/medical team of doctors, nurses, social and pastoral workers that visited HIV/AIDS patients both at home and in the hospital, focusing their work with the poor and homeless, which included monthly retreat days.  Peggy continued to care for people with TB and began Health-Life and Hope, a parish solidarity group that helped members overcome isolation and despair. They look after each other with home visits, going to the market, washing clothes, cooking for one another, helping with house repairs, and even paying for hospital bills and medicines.

In 2012, Peggy returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY as part of the Chi-Rho community. She loved volunteering at Neighbors Link in Ossining to teach English as a Second Language to Spanish speakers. Even as her own health declined over the years, she continued to befriend many of the staff and sisters present at the Center, continued to keep in heart and prayer many in Peru who are doing the same. Now together we say to you, our dear Sister Peggy: “Go now in peace, faithful friend of God, as you take our love into paradise. God’s holy angels will lead you home to the wide waiting arms of the Lord.” (Dan Schutte, Song of Farewell)

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Margaret Hennessey on Monday, August 5, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Mary Annel, M.M. died on April 14^th, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 84 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 66 years.

On December 6^th, 1939, Mary Virginia Annel was born in Chicago, IL to George Annel and Iola Grelck Annel.  She had two sisters; all of whom have predeceased her.

From 1953 – 1957, Mary attended Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, IL.   She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree, Pre-med from the College of Mt. St. Vincent in 1967 in New York City.  In 1971, she received her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.   She attended the University of Southern California (USC) Medical Complex, in a rotating internship program from 1971-1972. She then attended Tulane University in New Orleans, LA where she earned a M.A. in Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 1973.

Mary entered the Maryknoll Sisters in Valley Park, MO on December 30^th, 1957 (from her home parish in St. Domitilla in Hillside, IL).  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on August 22^nd, 1960 in Valley Park, MO and her Final Vows on August 22^nd, 1966 also in Valley Park, MO.

In 1973, Sister Mary received her first mission assignment to the Mexico-Guatemala Region. After studying the language in Cuernavaca, Mexico she was assigned to Jacaltenango, Huehuetenango, Guatemala working in the Diocesan Hospital and coordinating public health programs until 1988.

On June 15^th, 1981 Sister Mary received the George O. Tolbert International Health Award. This award recognizes attributes of compassion, generosity, service, sensitivity, love and concern for others, and the pursuance of excellence.

From 1988-1991, Sister Mary engaged in mission education in the Midwest U.S.

In 1992, she led an investigation and analysis of data from the Maryknollers’ worldwide HIV & AIDS ministry resulting in a document: Worldwide Trends in AIDS and Recommendations for future Maryknoll Sisters’ AIDS Ministry.

Sister Mary then was assigned to El Salvador in 1993 and became the impulse behind the Catholic Church’s commitment to the HIV & AIDS ministry. She initiated the Archdiocesan Aids team, which evolved into an NGO and named the Salvadoran Foundation for the Fight Against AIDS Maria Lorena, which she cofounded with Sr. Lorraine Beinkafner.  It is credited with stemming the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country. Familiarly known as ContraSIDA (Against AIDS).

In 2005, Sister Mary was presented with the National Catholic HIV/AIDS Network’s Lumina Award for her work in El Salvador.

In 2011, she was the recipient of The Medical College of Wisconsin’s Humanitarian Award and cited healthier rural communities as her most significant success.

In 2018, Sister Mary returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to retire. In 2019 she was transferred to the Maryknoll Sisters Home Care Unit until her death.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service was held for Sister Mary Annel on Tuesday, April 23^rd, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

 A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, April 24^th, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Isabel Rabbon died on May 19^th, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 90 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 67 years.

On June 17^th, 1933, Isabel was born in Wailuku, Maui, HI to Irene (Ragsag) Rabbon and Dionisio Rabang Rabbon.  She had one brother, John and two sisters, Socorro and Rufina; her sister Rufina and brother John survive her.

From 1948-1951, Isabel attended St. Anthony’s High School in Wailuku, HI.   She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Marymount College in 1954 in Salina, KS.  She taught fourth grade at Lanai City Elementary in Maui County until 1956.  She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters in Maryknoll, NY on September 2^nd, 1956 (from her home parish of St. Sophia, Molokai, HI).  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on June 24^th, 1959 in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on June 24^th, 1965 in Santiago, Chile.

After her First Profession, in 1959, Sister Isabel was assigned to teach at St. Anthony School in the Bronx, NY.  In 1963, she was assigned to Chile, serving as both teacher and pastoral minister in San Juan de Dios in Santiago until 1968. From 1969-1974, she served as Pastoral Minister in Parroquia La Asuncion in Talcahuano, Chile.

In 1975, Sister Isabel was asked to serve on the West Coast Admissions Team until 1978.  At the end of her time of service, she received this note of thanks from Sister Barbara Hendricks, then President of the Congregation: “Because of Sisters like you, we feel new hope and new life stirring up.  I hope that your heart has been strengthened by your time here at the Center. You certainly have strengthened the heart of the Community.”

Sister Isabel was assigned to the Central Pacific Region in 1979 and in the same year began to minister to the Catholic Community in Kaunakakai, Molokai as a Pastoral Associate. She served in three different parishes until 1990.  During her years in Molokai, she also served on the Regional Governing Board from 1986-1989. She would serve again, beginning in 2001.

In 1991, she became a Pastoral Associate at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Lanai City, Lanai. In August 1994, she received a letter asking her to serve on the Admissions Team once again, this time at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY from 1995 – 1999.

In 2022, Sister Isabel was assigned to the Eden Community at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to retire. She remained at the center until her death.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service was held for Sister Isabel Rabbon on Thursday, May 23^rd, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, May 24^th, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Patricia (Pat) Ring died on Thursday, April 11^th, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 73 years.

On June 14^th, 1930, Patricia Catherine Ring was born in Wabasha, MN to Phoebe Elizabeth (McMillin) Ring and John Francis Ring.  She had seven brothers and three sisters; all of whom have predeceased her except her sister Margaret and her husband Ron; and her sister-in-law Mary Pat.

From 1943-1947, Pat attended Mary E. McCahill Institute High School in Minnesota.   She earned her Bachelor of Education Degree from Maryknoll Teachers College, Maryknoll, NY in 1954 and her Master of Arts Degree in Religious Education from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO in 1974.

On September 6th, 1950 she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation in Maryknoll, NY (from her home parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Winona, MN).  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1953 in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on March 7^th, 1959 in Chile.

In 1953, Sister Pat received her first mission assignment to the Bronx, NY where she served as a second grade teacher.  She was then assigned to Chile in 1954, where she studied the language and culture for one year in Santiago.  She moved to Temuco in 1955 to serve as a second and third grade primary school teacher. From 1960-1967 she served as Principal of the primary school.

In 1968, Sister Pat was assigned further north to Talcahuano at the large Maryknoll parish of La Asuncion. There she became the Assistant Principal in the elementary school as well as Religion and English teacher in the high school until 1972.

While on renewal in the United States, Sister Pat studied at St. Louis University from 1973-1974.  She then returned to Chile to do pastoral youth work in San Miguel, Talcahuano Haulpencillo in 1975.  She also served as the Archdiocesan Director of Christian Communities and as a member of the National Board of Directors of Christian Communities of Chile until 1980.

From 1980-1985, Sister Pat came home to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Services in the Admissions Department.

In 1986 Sister Pat returned to Santiago, Puente Alto, Chile where she worked as a parish minister and pastoral worker until 2007.

In 2007, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for more Congregational Services; this time to work in the Treasury Department and as Eden Community Coordinator until 2013.

In 2013, Sister Pat was assigned to the Rogers Community as an active member, where she remained until her death on April 11^th, 2024.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service was held for Sister Patricia Ring on Wednesday, May 1^st, 2024, at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Memorial Mass was held on Thursday, May 2^nd, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Margaret Sehlstedt, M.M. died on April 14^th, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 98 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 80 years.

Margaret Sehlstedt was born on March 21^st, 1926 in Baltimore, MD to Elizabeth (Renehan) Sehlstedt and Albert Sehlstedt.  She had one brother, Albert and two sisters, Betty and Nancy; all of whom have predeceased her.

Margaret attended Mt. de Sales High School in Baltimore from 1940-1944.   She then earned her Bachelors of Education Degree from Maryknoll Teachers College in Maryknoll, NY in 1950.  She continued her studies learning the Japanese Language at the Yale Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Connecticut for one year. From 1951-1952, she spent time in Japan to further learn the language with Japanese teachers. During this time, she also taught English part-time in Kyoto, Japan.

Margaret entered the Maryknoll Sisters in Maryknoll, NY on September 6^th, 1944 (from her home parish of St. Mark’s in Catonsville, MD).  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1947 and her Final Vows on March 7^th, 1950 both at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.

For ten years from 1954-1964, Sister Margaret ministered in several parishes in Japan: Saiin, Tsu and Nagahama, before moving to the northernmost Province of Hokkaido at Muroran.  Her ministry involved her working with the women in these parishes.  In 1971, she moved to Tokyo to teach English at Sophia, the Jesuit University for one year before returning to New York to promote mission education in schools and churches for the next three years. Returning to Japan in 1975, Sister Margaret offered English Language courses, did religious work at the parish and diocesan levels, and volunteered at Kibo No Ie (Hope House) for the homeless.

Sister Margaret returned to the U.S. to take a course in Clinical Pastoral Education in Central Islip, NY and completed her training with a certificate in 1982.  She then stayed at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for three years helping in the nursing home.  In 1988, Sister Margaret was assigned to the Eastern U.S. Region working in Cincinnati, OH as Chaplain at the Providence Hospital starting full-time then as a part-time volunteer from 1997-2000.

In 2012, Sister Margaret returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to retire where she remained until her death.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service was held for Sister Margaret Sehlstedt on Wednesday, April 17^th, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, April 18^th, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Anne Correale, M.M. died on April 4^th, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 76 years.

On September 27^th, 1930, Anne Veronica Correale was born in Troy, NY to Lillian (Kelly) Correale and Leo J. Correale.  She had one brother, Robert, one sister, Claire, a half-sister, Deborah and a half-brother, Peter. Her sister Claire, sister in law Jeanne, half-sister Deborah, half-brother Peter and her husband Arthur survive her.  Her brother Robert has predeceased her.

From 1944-1948, Anne attended Catholic Central High School in Troy, NY.   She earned her Bachelor of Education Degree from the Maryknoll Teachers’ College in 1954. She then attended the University of Hawaii, receiving her Practical Nursing Certificate in 1974.  Anne entered the Maryknoll Sisters on September 4^th, 1948 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY (from her home parish, St. Patrick in Troy, NY in the Diocese of Albany, NY).  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1951 and her Final Vows on March 7^th, 1954 both at the Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.

In 1954, Sister Anne received her first mission assignment to Kalihi, Hawaii where she served as a fourth grade teacher.  She stayed in Hawaii teaching grades two through six until 1971.  In 1972, she returned to the Maryknoll Sister Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Services in the Housekeeping Department for one year. She then returned to Hawaii to utilize her medical skills at St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu, for the next two years. In 1976, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to work in healthcare at the Bethany Mariandale, Home Nursing and Family Planning until 1982. She was assigned to Bandung, Indonesia in 1982-1989 working as an outreach nurse at St. Joseph, a hospital for the poor.

From 1989-1993, Sister Anne once again did Congregational Services at the Sisters Center where she worked as Mail Desk Supervisor in the Treasury Department.  She was then assigned to Bangladesh in 1994 and studied the language and culture until 1996.  In 1997, Sister Anne once again returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Services in the Support Services Department and as Photo Librarian in the Communications/Development Department until 2005.

In 2006, Sister Anne fully retired at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Anne on Wednesday, April 10^th, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, April 11^th, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Jeanne Houlihan, M.M. died on Tuesday, March 26^th, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 72 years.

On February 11^th, 1931 Sister Jeanne was born in St. Louis, MO to Catherine R. (Dondon) Houlihan and Joseph P. Houlihan.  She had three brothers and five sisters; all of whom have predeceased her.

From 1945-1949, Sister Jeanne attended St. Josephs Academy High School in St. Louis, MO.   She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics from Fontbonne College in 1952 also in St. Louis.   Sister Jeanne then attended St. Louis University earning her Masters of Education in Administration in 1972.  She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation in Maryknoll, New York on September 2^nd, 1952 from her home parish (St. Monica in Creve Coeur, MO) in the St. Louis Diocese.  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1955 in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on March 7^th, 1961 in Hong Kong.

In 1955, Sister Jeanne received her first overseas mission assignment to Hong Kong. After studying the Chinese Language at the University of Hong Kong, she started to teach religion and home economics at the Maryknoll Convent School.  She dedicated 23 years (1968-1991) at the Maryknoll Convent School serving as Principal, Supervisor, and Chairperson of the secondary schools consecutively. She also served as Biblical Knowledge Examination Coordinator.

In 1991, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Services as Director of the Development Department until 2001.  In 2002, she returned to Hong Kong once again to serve as English Teacher at the Maryknoll Convent School where she spent another nine years until 2011.

In 2012, Sister Jeanne returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to semi-retire, volunteering in the Development Department until her full retirement in 2022.  Sister Jeanne was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters Home Care Unit, at the Sisters Center until her passing on March 26^th, 2024.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Jeanne on Thursday, April 4^th, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 5^th, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Nancy Thomas,M.M. died on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 96 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 77 years.

On November 8, 1927, Nancy R. Thomas was born in Washington, DC to Wilhelmenia F. Vogts and Ignatius G. Thomas.  She had one brother, Norbourn and one sister, Mary Clare; all have predeceased her.

From 1941 to 1945, Sister Nancy attended Mount Saint Agnes High School in Baltimore, Maryland.   She earned an Associate of Arts Degree at Mount Saint Agnes Junior College in 1947 in Baltimore, Maryland.  She then attended Maryknoll Teachers College (Rogers College) from 1949 to 1952 in Maryknoll, New York, and earned her Bachelor of Education Degree.

She entered the Maryknoll Sisters at Valley Park, Missouri on October 30, 1947, from her home parish of Shrine of Sacred Heart in Baltimore.  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on May 8, 1950, in Valley Park, Missouri, and her Final Vows on May 8, 1953, in Hawaii.

In 1952, she received her first mission assignment as a Primary School Teacher in Kaneohe, moving to Punahou in 1954, and Waikiki in 1959 for different grade levels in each area until 1968.  From 1968 to 1972, she was the Principal of the Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Sister returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, New York in 1972 for Congregational Services in the Development Department as Promotion Director until 1975.  She was assigned to Riberalta, Bolivia for one year in 1975 as a staff member of the Rural Pastoral Institute in the Pando Vicariate.  From 1977 to 1979 she continued doing pastoral work in the Cristo Rey Parish in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

In 1980, Sister moved to the Western United States Region in Seattle, Washington for her next assignment.  There she was a Receptionist and then an Assistant Activity Director in a nursing home until 1981.  She moved to Gilroy, California in 1981 until 2022.  During this period, she held various positions and titles, as part of the Western US Region. She was Director of Religious Education; she volunteered as Rape Crisis Advocate with NextDoor Solutions; a member of Women in Black, an international group that protests against violence and war; a volunteer at Emergency Housing Consortium Homeless Shelters; an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, and a member of the informal task force for building transitional shelters.

Sister Nancy served on the Regional Governing Board for the Western US Region in Finance and Planning from 1983 to 1987, and in Personnel and Finance from 1990 to 2002. In 2005, she was on the Leadership Team for the Western US Region.

In 2022, Sister returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to retire until her passing on March 3, 2024.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Nancy Thomas on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Rosemary Healy died on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 92 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 73years.

On September 9, 1931, Rosemary Healy was born in Butte, Montana to Margaret (Sullivan) Healy and Daniel Healy.  She had one brother, Daniel Joseph, who has predeceased her.  Her nephew, Ted Matthew, survives her.

From 1945 to 1949, Sister Rosemary attended Immaculate Conception Academy High School in San Francisco, California.   She earned her Bachelor of Education degree from Maryknoll Teachers College in 1962.  She then attended Catechetic Institute Superior de Pastoral in Madrid 1967-1968 receiving a degree in Catechetics. In the spring of 1979, she studied Pastoral Theology at the University of Salamanca.

She entered the Maryknoll Sisters at Valley Park, Missouri on February 1, 1951 from her home parish of St. James in San Francisco, California.  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on September 8, 1953 in Valley Park, Missouri and her Final Vows on September 8, 1959 at the Motherhouse in Maryknoll, New York.

From 1953 to 1966, Sister Rosemary studied and had many positions; F.A. Records, secretary to Fr. McCarthy at St. Teresa’s Nursing facility in Maryknoll, NY, and a teacher for grade eight in Bronx, New York.  In 1966, she was assigned to Manizales, Colombia as a member of Administration team, Director of Fieldwork and student seminars, Latin American Catechetical Institute until 1970.

For the next five years, Sister Rosemary was part of the Central Governing Board at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY, 1970 to 1975.  In 1975, she was assigned to Western US Region working in Oakland and then in Union City, California as part of the Western Admissions Team until 1978.

In 1979, she was assigned to Copilco, Santo Domingo, Mexico City, Mexico teaching in Basic Christian Communities until 1981.  From Mexico, she moved to Catarina, San Marcos, Guatemala in 1984 still teaching in Basic Christian Communities until her move to Huehuetenango, Guatemala as Regional Coordinator until 1989.   In 1990, she moved to El Milagro and Mixco in Guatemala as pastoral worker with women’s groups.  Also in Formation of Word and Catechists until 1994.  Between 1994 and 1998, she was a Rogers’ Council Member at Maryknoll, NY.  Returning to Guatemala in 1998 for more pastoral work with women and basic Christian Communities in La Communidad San Jose and Mixco until 2004.

In 2004, Sister Rosemary returned to Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, New York for Congregational Services in the Secretariat office – Central Files Clerk until 2006.  Still on Congregational Services, she helped as Creative Production Assistant and then in 2010 she volunteered as Web Content Associate until 2011.

In 2012 Sister retired and volunteered her time and love to the many Sisters in the Maryknoll Residential Care Unit until her death in 2024. Sister has so generously donated her body to science.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Rosemary Healy on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, February 16, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.