Sister Maureen Kelly, FSP, formerly known as Sr. John Agnes, was the second child of four born in New York City to John and Agnes Kelly.  She was raised north of the George Washington Bridge often referred to as Innwood.  There she attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School where she met the Franciscan Sisters.  She attended Cathedral High School for girls located on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.  After graduating from high school in 1953, Maureen entered the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Peekskill, NY and professed her first vows in 1955.
Sister Maureen pursued higher education at Ladycliff College in Highland Falls, NY graduating  with a BA degree in History and English.  Later, she studied at Hunter College in Manhattan where she earned an MA in History. 
Sr. Maureen was one of 112 founding members of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace established in 1986.
Throughout  her years of ministry, she taught in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York on the elementary level as well as 
the secondary level.  
While ministering at St. Joseph’s High School in West New York, NJ, she served as the chairperson of the History Department.  After completing studies at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, where she received an MA in Student Personnel Services and Guidance, she served as Director of Guidance at both St. Joseph’s High School, West New York, NJ and St. Dominic’s Academy, Jersey City, NJ for thirty-six years.  During these years she received special recognition as “Counselor of the County” for her dedicated service to students, parents, educators and the community as well as for promoting the highest ideals of the school counseling profession.  It was Sr. Maureen’s energy, joy, and generous spirit that were gifts to her students for so many years. 
 
In 2011 she retired from her ministry at St. Dominic’s Academy and served as Eucharistic Minister and Lector at St. Joseph’s Parish, Bogota, NJ.  In early 2018, due to declining health, Sr. Maureen moved to Marian Woods in Hartsdale, a collaborative adult care facility for women religious from various communities.  Since 2019, she has been a resident of St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY.  It was there that she befriended other residents and staff ministering in her own special way to all she encountered.    
 
Sr. Maureen is survived by her brother, John Kelly and her sister Eileen Giordan as well as many nieces and nephews and several grand nieces and nephews. 
 
All services will be private due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated when possible. 
   
Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Yonkers, NY on Tuesday,  July 14, 2020

Sister Regina Miriam (Catherine McWilliams) died peacefully on April 1, 2020 at St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY.  Catherine was born in New York City on November 14, 1927 to Isabella Ferris and Ralph McWilliams.  She had six siblings:  Michael, Thomas, Margaret, Colette, Theresa and Ralph.  She attended Sacred Heart Grammar School in Manhattan and graduated from Cathedral High School in June 1946.  In her first year at Cathedral High School she met the Franciscan Sisters and entered their novitiate in Peekskill, NY in March of 1947.
After her religious profession, Sr. Regina Miriam was assigned to the field of Elementary Education and remained in that ministry for fifty-six years.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English at Ladycliff College, Highland Falls, NY and later studied at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ where she achieved a Master’s degree in Education Administration in 1976.
During her early years she taught at St. Mary’s School in West New York, NJ.  In 1953 she was assigned as teacher and child care worker at St. Joseph’s Home, Peekskill, NY until 1955 when she went to teach at St. Patrick’s School in Verplanck, NY until 1957.  From 1957-1959, she taught at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St. Veronica’s School, both in Manhattan.  From 1960-1961, she taught at Assumption in Peekskill, NY
Sr. Regina Miriam rejoined the faculty at St. Mary’s School, West New York, NJ in 1961 and spent five years there. She then taught for two years at St. Joseph’s School, Bogota, NJ.  In 1969, she returned to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in NYC until 1972.  It was then that she was appointed as Principal of St. Joseph’s School in Bogota, NJ and served in that role for six years.
Illness interrupted her tenure as Principal in 1978  but Sr. Regina Miriam was able to return to that role in 1983 serving for another twenty-one years!  During her teaching tenure, Sr. Regina Miriam received permanent licensing in education in both New York and New Jersey.  She was also certified as Principal by the State of New Jersey in 1972.  In 2003 she received the STARS award as a tribute to her service in the field of education.
In 1986, when the newly founded Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace was established, Sr. Regina Miriam chose to become one of 112 founding members.  She served on the Finance Committee of St. Joseph’s Parish, Bogota and the Long-Range Planning Committee of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace.
She retired from active ministry in 2004 and continued to reside in Bogota until 2010 when she moved to a collaborative retirement facility, Marian Woods located in Hartsdale, NY and remained in residence there until 2017.  Due to her need for skilled care, Sr. Regina Miriam was moved to St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
All of Sr. Regina Miriam’s siblings have predeceased her.  She was proud of the military service of her brothers, Michael and Thomas, who served in the US Army during World War II.  Thomas (Tucker) was wounded in combat in Germany on February 23, 1945 and died two days later near Duren, Germany.  He was buried in the Henri Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium. 
Sr. Regina Miriam is survived by her nieces, Rose Ann Buccino and Michele Giuliano, who were very faithful and attentive to visiting her at St. Cabrini Nursing Home.  She also had many nieces and nephews along with several cousins.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, no wake or funeral services could be held.  A Memorial Mass will be celebrated when possible.
Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Yonkers, NY on Saturday, April 4, 2020.  Service will be private.