Obituary for Sr. Catherine Sheehy RSM
Sister Catherine Mary Sheehy, formerly known as Sister Immaculate Marie, died peacefully at St. Mary Home in West Hartford, Connecticut on October 1, 2020 at the age of 96. She was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of William Sheehy and Nora Sullivan. Sister Catherine entered the Sisters of Mercy June 28, 1941 and made her perpetual profession on January 3,1947. She was known by her Sisters in community as a gentle, warm-hearted person, full of life and laughter. In every way she manifested the traits of Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy.
In 1941 Sister began her long teaching career at St. Patrick School in Hartford. Until 1975 she taught in several schools throughout Connecticut. Her teaching years were with children in grades 1 and 2. In 1970 Sister became Principal at St John School in Stamford. In 1975 she became the Principal at Greenwich Primary in Greenwich and in 1976, Principal at St. Philip School in Norwalk.
1990 was a spectacular year for her. Sister Catherine was appointed principal of the newly formed Norwalk Catholic Regional Elementary School, named All Saints Catholic School. She was selected for this position by the pastors of the seven Norwalk parishes. Together she and Sister Sally Norcross, CND who served as vice-principal created a gold standard for elementary education.
As a Principal she had a mantra based on Jesus’s admonition "Whatever you do to anyone else, you do to me.” She believed when you are working with others you don’t know what burdens or joys, they may be carrying. You don’t know what your smile might do.
Sister was diminutive in size but large in spirit. After sixteen years of building this educational program she served as a pastoral minister at Assumption Parish, Westport. It was there she became good friends with Father Tom Thorne. When she retired, she resided at St. Philip Convent in Norwalk, where she volunteered at Lourdes Health Care in Wilton until her failing health brought her to St. Mary Home in West Hartford.
Sister Catherine held a B.A. and an M.A. in Education and an M.A. in Counseling from the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, CT. She had also taken courses at Southern Connecticut University, Fordham University, the University of Santa Barbara in California, and Norwalk Community College.
Sister Catherine leaves behind her sister, Sister Anita Sheehy, RSM, her Mercy community, and her good friend, Sister Sally Norcross, CND. She also leaves behind her nieces: Marita Farrell, Elizabeth Sheehy, Katherine Sheehy and nephews: Peter McCuen ,William Sheehy, John Sheehy, Stephen Sheehy Jr. and Mark Sheehy. She leaves behind her sister-in-law, Patricia Sheehy. She is predeceased by her sisters: Jeanne Farrell, Evelyn Duble and Marita Sheehy and her brothers: Stephen and William. She is also predeceased by two nieces: Mary Christine and Anne Sheehy and her sister-in-law Margaret Sheehy.
The Sisters of Mercy wish to express their deepest gratitude to the nurses and staff on the Baggot Street unit at St. Mary Home for their loving and compassionate care.
Funeral arrangements will be conducted by Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at St. Mary Church 626 Willard Ave., Newington. This Mass will be preceded by a Wake in the church starting at 10:00 am. Burial will be after the Mass at St Mary Home Cemetery in West Hartford. All Covid-19 protocols will be followed. Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 25 Prescott Street, West Hartford, CT 06110-2335. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com
In 1941 Sister began her long teaching career at St. Patrick School in Hartford. Until 1975 she taught in several schools throughout Connecticut. Her teaching years were with children in grades 1 and 2. In 1970 Sister became Principal at St John School in Stamford. In 1975 she became the Principal at Greenwich Primary in Greenwich and in 1976, Principal at St. Philip School in Norwalk.
1990 was a spectacular year for her. Sister Catherine was appointed principal of the newly formed Norwalk Catholic Regional Elementary School, named All Saints Catholic School. She was selected for this position by the pastors of the seven Norwalk parishes. Together she and Sister Sally Norcross, CND who served as vice-principal created a gold standard for elementary education.
As a Principal she had a mantra based on Jesus’s admonition "Whatever you do to anyone else, you do to me.” She believed when you are working with others you don’t know what burdens or joys, they may be carrying. You don’t know what your smile might do.
Sister was diminutive in size but large in spirit. After sixteen years of building this educational program she served as a pastoral minister at Assumption Parish, Westport. It was there she became good friends with Father Tom Thorne. When she retired, she resided at St. Philip Convent in Norwalk, where she volunteered at Lourdes Health Care in Wilton until her failing health brought her to St. Mary Home in West Hartford.
Sister Catherine held a B.A. and an M.A. in Education and an M.A. in Counseling from the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, CT. She had also taken courses at Southern Connecticut University, Fordham University, the University of Santa Barbara in California, and Norwalk Community College.
Sister Catherine leaves behind her sister, Sister Anita Sheehy, RSM, her Mercy community, and her good friend, Sister Sally Norcross, CND. She also leaves behind her nieces: Marita Farrell, Elizabeth Sheehy, Katherine Sheehy and nephews: Peter McCuen ,William Sheehy, John Sheehy, Stephen Sheehy Jr. and Mark Sheehy. She leaves behind her sister-in-law, Patricia Sheehy. She is predeceased by her sisters: Jeanne Farrell, Evelyn Duble and Marita Sheehy and her brothers: Stephen and William. She is also predeceased by two nieces: Mary Christine and Anne Sheehy and her sister-in-law Margaret Sheehy.
The Sisters of Mercy wish to express their deepest gratitude to the nurses and staff on the Baggot Street unit at St. Mary Home for their loving and compassionate care.
Funeral arrangements will be conducted by Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at St. Mary Church 626 Willard Ave., Newington. This Mass will be preceded by a Wake in the church starting at 10:00 am. Burial will be after the Mass at St Mary Home Cemetery in West Hartford. All Covid-19 protocols will be followed. Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 25 Prescott Street, West Hartford, CT 06110-2335. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com