Franciscan Sisters of Peace

Haverstraw, NY

In Memoriam

2019
- Sr. Irene Freely, FSP
  April 4, 1941 – May 7, 2019
  
  Sr. Irene was 78 years old and was a Franciscan Sister for 60 years. She was born in NYC on April 4, 1941 to Elizabeth Steineger and James Freely. She grew up in the Inwood section of Manhattan and graduated from Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs School where she met the Franciscan Sisters. She attended Cathedral High School, graduating in 1959. Sr. Irene entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters at Peekskill, NY in 1959 and professed her first vows in 1961. She was assigned to teach in grammar schools in New Jersey and Philadelphia. She then ministered in child care at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Home, Bronx, NY for more than 10 years. She received a B.A. degree in Human Services from Dominican College, Blauvelt, NY and later her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University. Sr. Irene transferred to the Franciscan Sisters of Peace when the new congregation was established in 1986. After completing her M.S.W. she joined the staff of a Covenant House Program called “Under 21” and shortly after that the Dominican Sisters Family Health Services in the South Bronx. In 1983 she was one of the sisters who pioneered the Newburgh Ministry, an outreach program attempting to meet the needs of an impoverished area in Newburgh, NY. After a sabbatical period spent in Guatemala in 1988 living with women religious from that area, she returned to that country for 8 years. With funding from grants, she established feeding programs for poor children, a program to enable children to attend the local school rather than work in the fields, a library, a program to teach women to use sewing machines to make clothes and other efforts to assist the poor. After her return to the U.S. in 1996, Sr. Irene was in social work ministry at St. Nicholas Tolentine Parish, Bronx, NY for 10 years until her retirement due to illness. She is survived by her sister Virginia Cassell, her nephew John Cassell, and three nieces Kristina Brennan, Irene Cassell and Beth Marshall and many cousins.
- Sr. Kathleen Doyle, FSP
  February 3, 1928 - March 13, 2019
  
  She was born in Astoria, Queens to William and Catherine McCarthy Doyle on February 3, 1928. She graduated from Bishop McDonnell High School and received a BA in English from Ladycliff College and a MA in English from St. Bonaventure University. Sr. Kathleen entered into the religious community on September 8, 1946 at Mount St. Francis in Peekskill, NY. She professed her first vows on July 8, 1948 and final vows on July 8, 1953. Her Assignments included St. Leo’s School, Elmwood Park, NJ; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School, NYC; St. Matthew’s School, Hastings, NY; St. Joseph’s Home, Peekskill, NY; Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Home, Bronx, NY; Assisium Business School, NYC; St. Patrick’s School, Yorktown, NY; Ladycliff Academy/Franciscan High School, Mohegan Lake, NY; Crouse Irving Hospital, Syracuse, NY; Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NY; Misericordia Hospital, NYC; Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, NYC; Pelham Bay Mercy Hospital, Bronx, NY; Metropolitan Hospital, NYC; Our Lady of Mercy, D’Urso Pavilion, Bronx, NY; St. Joseph Hospital, Yonkers, NY. She also received an Advanced Certification in Clinical Pastoral Education. Sr. Kathleen is survived by her brother Bill Doyle, Mineola, NY; Sister – Sr. Dolores Doyle, PBVM, Yonkers, NY; niece Mary Marsch, Virginia; nephews Bill Doyle, Indiana and Bud Doyle, Colorado.
  
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2018
- Sr. Sebastian Conlon
  September 11, 1923 - December 30, 2018
  
  She was born on September 11, 1923 in Jersey City, New Jersey to Thomas and Genevieve Thoden Conlon. She graduated from St. Cecelia High School, Fordham University and St. Bonaventure University. Sister Sebastian entered the religious community on September 8, 1941 and professed her final vows on August 28, 1948. Some of her many assignments include; St. Jerome’s Day Nursery, Bronx, NY; Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Home, Bronx; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, NYC; Holy Name of Mary, Croton-on-Hudson; St. Joseph of Palisades School, West NY; she was a member of Provincial Council, Peekskill, NY; Community Supervisor of Elementary Schools; St. Matthew’s School, Hastings and Sacred Heart School, Yonkers, NY. She is survived by her brother Thomas Conlon, O.Carm. Tucson, AZ; Marie Wolf, Sacramento, CA; Kirby Conlon, Holmdel, NJ; Imelda Smith, Downers Grove, IL; and several nieces and nephews.
- Sr. Catherine Ryan
  February 12, 1931 - August 16, 2018
  
  Sr. Catherine Ryan, F.S.P. (formerly Sr. Mary Thomas), 87, died on Thursday August 16, 2018 at Cabrini of Westchester. She was born on February 12, 1931 in New York City to Thomas and Mary Waldron Ryan where she was raised and educated graduating from Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Grammar School and Cathedral High School. She received a BA in History from Ladycliff College in Highland Falls and a MA in Theology from Manhattan College. Sr. Catherine entered into the religious community on September 8, 1949, professed her first vows on July 7, 1951 and her final vows on July 7, 1956. Her assignments included Senior Child Care Worker at St. Joseph’s Home in Peekskill, teaching at St. Rita’s School in Philadelphia, St. Joseph’s High School in NYC; Immaculate Conception in Irvington (Principal), Ladycliff College in Highland Falls (Dean of Studies), Holy Name of Jesus, Croton on Hudson (Director of Religious Education), Archdiocese of NY Catechetical Office (Director of Diocesan Programs/Regional Director for West Manhattan, Harlem and the East Bronx). Her awards included Archdiocesan Good Shepherd Award for outstanding leadership, compassion and dedication and the Fordham University Sapientia et Doctrina Award for service to the renewal of the Church. She was also honored as one of the founders of the New York Archdiocesan Catechetical Office in 1983 and thirty years of service as Regional Director. Survivors include a brother, Edward Ryan and his wife Ann of Providence, RI, two nephews, Dr. Edward Ryan of Boston, MA and Thomas Ryan of Los Angeles, Ca. and three nieces, Dr. Sharon Ryan of New Brunswick, NJ, Ann Ryan-Dwyer of Brooklyn and Lisa Fugger of Ohio and nine grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
- Sr. Marcella McHale
  January 24, 1934 – MAY 30, 2018
  
  Sr. Marcella McHale, F.S.P., 84, died on Wednesday May 30, 2018 at White Plains Hospital. She was born on January 24, 1934 to James and Mary Sloan McHale in Philadelphia where she attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School and the business School of Philadelphia. She graduated from Ladycliff Academy in Highland Falls, N.Y. and went on to receive a BA in History from Ladycliff College. She entered into religious life with the Franciscan Sisters, Peekskill, NY on September 8, 1956. Sister Marcella professed her first vows on August 13, 1958 and her final vows on August 13, 1963. She held several teaching positions in various areas including Little Falls, N.J., Philadelphia, Peekskill, Tarrytown, Butler, NJ and Oradell, NJ. She also held positions as secretary, and principal in Philadelphia and served as Provincial Secretary. She just recently retired. Survivors include a brother, James McHale of Philadelphia, two nephews, James McHale and his wife, Janet and Brian McHale both of Philadelphia, a niece, Maureen McHale of Philadelphia and two grand nephews, James and Andrew McHale also of Philadelphia.
  
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- Sr. Maureen O'Leary
  January 21, 1938 - February 3, 2018
  
  Sr. Maureen O’Leary, F.S.P. passed away on February 3, 2018 at age 80. She was born on January 21, 1938 to Timothy and Mary Hayes O’Leary in New York City where she graduated from Sacred Heart of Mary High School. Sr. Maureen attended Ladycliff College and received a BA in History, she attended Manhattan College and received a MA in Education and Reading, from Maryknoll she received a MA in Theology. On September 8, 1955 she entered into Religious life. Her first vows were on August 14, 1957 and final vows were August 14, 1962. Some of her assignments were; teacher in Pennsylvania and in 1970 she was principal of Holy Name of Mary in Croton, Sr. Maureen was the coordinator of Mount St. Francis in Peekskill and a part time teacher at Ladycliff College. She was a retreat team member at Graymoor in Garrison, NY; Director at the Center for Justice in Buffalo; Campus Minister at SUNY, Albany, and retired to Marian Woods in 2008. Sr. Maureen was the recipient of the Justice Award at University of Albany in 2003, and Distinguished Volunteer Award – Bishop Broderick Apartments, Albany, NY. She is survived by her cousin Vera Loftus of Co. Waterford, Ireland.
  
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