Dominican Sister of Peace Dolores Flavin, 90, died at Mohun Health Care Center, Columbus, OH on Sunday, June 23, 2020.
Born in 1930, Sr. Dolores was one of the four children of Nellie Sheehan and Peter Flavin of Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from St. Lawrence High School, then followed in the footsteps of her sister, Petra, and entered the Congregation in 1949, made first profession in 1950, and took her final vows in 1953.
Sr. Dolores earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1965 from Saint Mary of the Springs College, now Ohio Dominican University. She spent her summers attending seminars and educational programs to keep abreast of the changes in education and became interested in the Montessori approach. Sr. Dolores served as a primary grade teacher in Ohio and Pennsylvania for nearly 50 years.
During this time, Sr. Dolores also ministered as a Choir Director, trained altar servers, directed school plays and musicals, and published monthly newsletters for parents and students at the schools where she served.
After retiring from her teaching careers, Sr. Dolores became the Facilities Director at our Columbus Motherhouse and, later, the Hospitality Coordinator. She enjoyed decorating for major feast days, holidays, and, especially, the Jubilee celebrations of our Sisters, and served in this special ministry until 2019.
Sr. Dolores entered a ministry of prayer and presence at the Mohun Health Care Center, celebrating 70 years of ministry in 2020.
Sr. Dolores once wrote that she entered religious life because she felt a special call, but that she remained in religious life because of the prayer, the love that Sisters had for each other, and the community life that she experienced and loved so much.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Nellie Marie Sheehan Flavin, her brother, John, and her sister, Patricia Burke. Her Dominican Sister of Peace Petra Flavin followed her to Heaven on August 8, 2020. She is survived by nieces and nephews.
A private wake was held on Wednesday, August 12, and a private Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, August 13. Sr. Dolores was interred at St. Joseph Cemetery in Columbus, OH.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Dolores’ memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr., Columbus, OH 43219.
To donate in Sr. Dolores’ memory, please click here.
To view a printable PDF copy of Sr. Dolores’ memorial, please click here.