Submitted by: Dan Rich
April 27, 1905 - Feb. 26, 2003
South Bend Tribune 2/27/2003
Sister M. Clarissa (Esther Conroy), CSC, 97, was born April 27, 1905, to the late James Conroy and Mary Baker Conroy, the seventh child in a family of eight. She is survived by her nieces, Edwardine Howl and Ruth McFarland of Bethany, Okla., Catherine Hovis of DeKalb, Ill., and Elaine Jones of Garner, Iowa; and by a nephew, John Howl of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sister's early education was completed in Xenia and Cairo, Ill.
Prior to entering the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, she entered Saint Mary's School of Nursing, Cairo, Ill., in 1925, graduated in 1928, and passed her boards in 1929. She worked as night supervisor and then as clinical instructor for nurses at Saint Mary's Hospital, Cairo. She entered the Congregation September 1935 and made final profession in August 1941. Sister received her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Saint Mary's College. Sister was obstetrical supervisor at Our Saviour's Hospital, Jacksonville, Ill., and in 1940 she was able to take a post-graduate course, receiving a certificate in obstetrics from Saint Joseph's Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis. Sister was night supervisor and obstetrical supervisor at Saint Joseph's Hospital, South Bend, Ind., obstetrical supervisor at Saint John's Hospital, Anderson, Ind., administrator at Saint Mary's Hospital, Cairo, and worked in the pastoral care department at Saint Alphonsus Hospital, Boise, Idaho, and Mount Carmel East Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. The dream of her life was realized when she was assigned in 1982 to assist with Community Development, Mobile Health Wagon and McClure River Community Development Center, Ministry to the Aged, all in Nora, Va. She had always dreamed of working with the underprivileged and Nora, Va., fit her very well.
Sister Clarissa came in 1990 to Saint Mary's and took care of three college chapels until 1994 when she retired to Rosary Convent where she did volunteer work to the community. She was active in the Ministry of Prayer at Saint Mary's until her death.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
Reception of Body: 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. Wake Service: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. Funeral Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.