Obituaries

Celebrate with us the lives of our Sisters, who have gone before us and have answered God’s call in her own unique way. If you are having trouble finding the obituary of one of our Sisters, please email info@oppeace.org for assistance.

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Dominican Sister of Peace Vincent de Paul Hutton, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Vincent de Paul Hutton, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Vincent de Paul Hutton, OP, (111) died on December 16, 2022, at Sansbury Care Center, St. Catharine, Kentucky. At 111 years of age and nearly 90 years of religious life, she was the oldest living woman religious in the United States.

Sr. Vincent de Paul was born Mary Magdalen in 1911. Her parents, Flora Yelton and Henry Hutton, raised eight children in Cuba, IL. After working for several years following high school graduation, she entered the Congregation in 1932, made her first profession in 1933, and took her final vows in 1936. Next year she would have celebrated her 90th jubilee of faithful service!

Sr. Vincent held a Bachelor of Arts degree in Math and Spanish from Nazareth College. She studied Physics and Radiobiology as well, and put that study to good use in her long ministry of education.

Sr. Vincent was a model of Dominican itinerancy. She began teaching in 1933 in Indiana, and in her more than five decades as an educator and administrator moved to Kentucky, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia. She was strict and had high expectations but was respected as well. One of her male students of physics noted that she was the best teacher he ever had.

After retiring from education in 1985, Sr. Vincent joined the Congregation’s Finance team, where she built a reputation for being organized, conscientious, and absolutely dogged about the accuracy of the reports that she prepared. Her reputation for seriousness, however, did not squash her sense of humor – she showed up at a community “talent show” in knickers and a hat, and played the harmonica.

As the century turned in 1999, so did Sr. Vincent, retiring from active ministry to volunteer in the Recycling Center at St. Catharine’s Dominican Earth Center. It was important to her to do meaningful work, and that was work she was able to do. She moved to the Sansbury Care Center in 2001, where she continued her recycling ministry for some time.

Sr. Vincent was preceded in death by her parents and siblings and survived by several nieces and nephews.

A sharing of memories and visitation was held on Thursday, December 22, at the Sansbury Care Center Chapel. The funeral was on Friday, December 23, at Sansbury Care Center Chapel. Sr. Vincent was interred at the St. Catharine Motherhouse Cemetery among her Sisters and friends.

To donate in Sr. Vincent de Paul’s memory, please click here.

To download a printable copy of this memorial, click here.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Vincent de Paul Hutton’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or oppeace.org.

 

Posted in News, Obituaries

Dominican Sister of Peace Mary Esther Owens, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Mary Esther Owens, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Mary Esther Owens, OP, (98), a native of Charleston, MA, died December 4, 2022, at Sansbury Care Center in St. Catharine, KY.

Sr. Mary Esther was born Mary Margaret to Margaret T. Ahern and William Owens on September 9, 1924. She worked for a few years before entering the Congregation in 1944. She made final profession in 1946 and celebrated her 75th Jubilee in 2021.

Sr. Mary Esther earned her Bachelor of Arts in English/History/French/Math from Manhattan College in New York, and her Master of Arts in Theology from Providence College. A true Dominican in her love of study, Sr. Mary Esther also worked toward a degree in Applied Theology from Berkeley and took courses in Formation, Community Development, and Spiritual Direction at various institutes.

She spent nearly two decades as a teacher and administrator in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois before being called by the Congregation to serve as Director of Junior Sisters at the St. Catharine Motherhouse and College. She later served her Community by ministering as Eastern Regional Coordinator and, later, as Coordinator of Rosary Manor.

Her deep knowledge and empathy made her suited for many ministries, but education was a favorite. She taught at St. Catharine College, Our Lady of the Rosary in California, and served as Director of Admissions at the School of Applied Theology in Albany, California. She was also an active volunteer at McLean Hospital and Seton Manor in Watertown before she entered a ministry of prayer and presence at the Sansbury Care Center in 2014.

Sr. Kay Mahady spoke with admiration for Sr. Mary Esther’s service to the Church but remembered her more personally during her reflection at her funeral. “Mary’s uniqueness was best expressed in her kindness, wit, and respect for others…in her deep sense of fun… enjoyment in playing piano and singing Irish songs, and yes, in the joy of dance… in stepping out onto the dance floor whenever an occasion appropriately presented itself.”

Sr. Mary Esther is survived by several cousins and members of the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

Sr. Mary Esther was remembered at her visitation on December 21. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on December 23. Both events were held at the Sansbury Care Center Chapel. Sr. Mary Esther was interred at the St. Catharine Motherhouse cemetery.

To donate in Sr. Mary Esther’s memory, please click here.

To download a printable copy of this memorial, click here.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Mary Esther Owens’ memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or oppeace.org.

Posted in News, Obituaries

Dominican Sister of Peace Joan Monica McGuire, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Joan Monica McGuire, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Joan Monica (Margaret Winifred) McGuire, OP (90), died on November 21, 2022, at the Sansbury Care Center in St. Catharine, KY.

Sr. Joan was one of six children born to Emma Goedicko and Joseph McGuire in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. She worked for four years before hearing God’s call and entered the Congregation in 1953. She made first profession in 1955, took her final vows in 1958, and celebrated her 65th Jubilee in 2020.

Sr. Joan loved to study and earned her associates degree from Saint Catharine College, her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and English from Siena College, and her Master of Arts in theology from Loyola University. She later earned her STL (Licentiate in Sacred Theology) in Theology and her STD (Doctor of Sacred Theology) in Ecumenism from the Angelicum Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome. Joan also attended various seminars and programs so that she would be fully prepared for her ministry.

In her reflection at Sr. Joan’s funeral, Sr. Helen Cahill said, “Peace is to be our focus, not revenge. What Jesus was advocating was profound inner Transformation. Joan was persistent in her search for God and open to this inner Transformation.”

Sr. Joan began her long ministry as an educator, teaching in Illinois and Nebraska. She was called to serve her community as the regional coordinator for the Western Region, then elected president of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine, serving from 1972-1980. She also served as a Governing Board Member.

Following her service in Congregational leadership, Sr. Joan interned with the World Without War Council. This was excellent preparation for her next ministry at the Archdiocese of Chicago, where she served as director of ecumenical affairs and interreligious affairs. She was very involved in establishing a covenant relationship between the Metropolitan Chicago Synod and the Archdiocese of Chicago and was recognized with the James Fitzgerald Award from CADEIO (Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers) in 2009.  

Sr. Joan continued to work for peace and unity after her “retirement.” She prepared prayer services on Christian Unity and the Quran, as well as attending services in various Christian churches. She advocated for unity in diversity, promoted voter registration, explored the needs of the poor in the Springfield, Kentucky area, and met with groups working to prevent suicide among the young.

In 2014, Sister McGuire moved to Sansbury Care Center where she began a ministry of prayer and presence.

She is survived by her sister Winifred “Winnie” Becker, several nieces and nephews and members of her congregation.

Visitation was held on November 30 and the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated December 1, both at the Sansbury Care Center Chapel. Sr. Joan was interred at the St. Catharine Motherhouse Cemetery.

To donate in Sr. Joan Monica McGuire’s memory, please click here.

To download a printable copy of this memorial, click here.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Joan Monica McGuire’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or oppeace.org.

 

Posted in Obituaries

Dominican Sister of Peace Helen O’Sullivan

Dominican Sister of Peace Sister Helen O’Sullivan, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Helen (Michael Ann) O’Sullivan, OP, (81), went home to God on September 30, 2022, at Sansbury Care Center in St. Catharine, KY.

Sr. Helen was a native of Brooklyn, NY, born to Anna Elizabeth Melvin and Robert O’Sullivan on July 16, 1941. She attended St. Catharine College, where she heard God’s call to religious life and entered the Congregation in 1960. She took her final vows in 1967 and celebrated her 60th Jubilee in 2022. Sr. Helen earned her Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Science from Siena College and both her master’s in education in Personalized Learning and her Master of Arts in Organizational Development from Loyola University. She also earned a certificate in Spiritual Leadership from the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago. She served as an elementary school teacher and principal in Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, and West Virginia.

After a sabbatical at the Jesuit School of Theology in Boston, Sr. Helen served as a Case Manager for the Homeless and Program Supervisor at the Pine Street Inn in Boston and, later, as the Administrator of the Paul Sullivan Homeless Shelter. She loved this ministry because, as she wrote in her annals, “Advocating for the homeless and helping them to see the goodness in themselves has been one of the most rewarding things for me since becoming a Sister.”

Sr. Helen served her Congregation as Mission Group Coordinator at Saint Catharine Motherhouse, also extending gracious hospitality to other Mission Groups when they held their meetings at Saint Catharine. After this time, she returned to her work with the homeless in Boston. She came home to St. Catharine for her final ministries of prayer and service in 2017.

Sr. Helen loved the water and spent many happy hours sailing with friends and family. In her reflection, Sr. Rosemary Rule compared her life to the Book of Mark. “She believed with all her heart, even when it was hard to do, that Jesus was in the boat with her and would calm the trouble.  She might have to wake Him up, but He was with her and would take care of things.  Prayer and her Bible reassured her that her beliefs were solid.”

A visitation was held on October 6 and the Funeral Mass was held on October 7, both at the Sansbury Care Center Chapel. Burial was in the St. Catharine Motherhouse cemetery.

To donate in Sr. Helen O’Sullivan’s memory, please click here.

To download a printable copy of this memorial, click here.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Helen O’Sullivan’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or oppeace.org.

Posted in Obituaries

Sister Rosemary Cina, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Rosemary Cina, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Rosemary (Miriam Loretto) Cina, OP (85), a native of Brooklyn, NY, died on September 25, 2022, at Sansbury Care Center in St. Catharine, KY.

Sr. Rosemary was born to Anthony J. and Laurette Touhey Cina on June 29, 1937. After working for a few years as a bookkeeper Sr. Rosemary answered God’s call and entered the Congregation in 1960. She made final profession in 1962 and served God and God’s people for 60 years.

Sr. Rosemary earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, Philosophy and Psychology from Siena College and ministered as a teacher in Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, and West Virginia. She returned to study at Rosary College in 1972 and earned her Master of Arts in Library Science. She served as a librarian in Illinois and New York for more than two decades.

While Sr. Rosemary was a soft-spoken woman who did not seek the spotlight, her talents were obvious. She was asked to serve as the Administrative Assistant for the Congregational Leadership Team and as Archivist for twelve years. She cherished the many historical documents and artifacts of the Congregation’s long history in Kentucky.

In 2008, Sr. Rosemary moved to Rosary Manor and ministered as a resident volunteer. She loved dogs and was a regular dog sitter for friends and neighbors.

Sr. Rosemary returned to Sr. Catharine in 2018, where she began her final ministry of prayer and presence at the St. Catharine Motherhouse, and in 2019, at the Sansbury Care Center.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Gabrielle Cina, nephew Robert Cina, several cousins, and members of the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

The welcome and visitation for Sr. Rosemary were held on October 3 at the Sansbury Care Center Chapel. The funeral was held on October 4, at Sansbury Care Center Chapel. Sr. Rosemary was interred at the St. Catharine Motherhouse cemetery.

To donate in Sr. Rosemary Cina’s memory, please click here.

To download a printable copy of this memorial, click here.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Rosemary Cina’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or oppeace.org.

 

Posted in News, Obituaries