Sister Mary Edna Brophy, Maryknoll Sister for 60 Years Dies

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mary Moriarty was born in Westfield, MA, June 27, 1925 to Margaret (Maloney) Moriarty and John Joseph Moriarty. She had one brother John and one sister, Jeannette. Her brother, sister and both parents have predeceased her.
She graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Westfield, MA in 1941. She then attended Bennett Secretarial School in Westfield. She had almost 10 years of experience as a professional secretary when she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation from St. Mary’s Parish in Westfield, MA on September 6, 1951 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY. At her reception, she received the religious name, Sister Paul Mary. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7, 1954 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center and her Final Vows on March 7, 1960 in Tanzania, East Africa.

When Sister Mary professed her first set of Vows her vast experience and expertise as a secretary and bookkeeper were recognized and she was assigned to the General Bursar’s Office at the Maryknoll Sisters Center until 1958 when she received her overseas assignment to Tanzania. There she became the Sisters’ Regional Treasurer from 1958-2001. She first went to Morogoro, TZ where she was catechist and bursar until 1960. She then moved to Rosana, TZ, where she was house superior, bursar, religion teacher, pastoral worker and bookkeeper. In 1965, she was relocated to Makoko, TZ where she was again superior of the house as well as involved in social service, youth work and nursery school education.

Following her renewal in 1967, she returned to Musoma, Tanzania where she worked as personal Secretary to Bishop John Rudin of Musoma Diocese until 1980. She also served as Diocesan Treasurer and Part Time Catechetical and Pastoral Worker. Later, from 1980 to 1987 she was Secretary to Archbishop Anthony Mayala and Treasurer of the diocese. From 1988 to 1995, she was Secretary to the Tanzania Regional Superior of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.

In addition to all of this, Sister Mary was Director of the Mwembeni Social Center intermittently from 1977 – 2001, where she taught English and typing classes. In 2000, she founded a Youth Center, a Nursery and a Library in Musoma and worked with women. In 2006-2007, she was Administrator of a Sports Center Project. In recognition of Sister Mary’s many works performed in the Diocese of Musoma, she was awarded the Pope’s Cross “Pro Ecclesia” during the Golden Anniversary of the diocese in 2007.

She returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in August of 2008 where she died on April 5, 2016.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Mary on Thursday, April 7, at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at Maryknoll Sisters Center. A funeral Mass will follow on Friday on April 8, 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.