Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sister Catherine Hannon CSC

Feb. 2, 1926 - Dec. 4, 2002

South Bend Tribune 12/6/2002

Sister Catherine Hannon (Sister Leo Marie) CSC, 76, was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on Feb. 2, 1926, to the late Leo Joseph and Agnes Loretta O'Hern Hannon. She is survived by her sister, Mary Margaret O'Rourke; niece, Kathie O'Rourke; and by a nephew, Sean O'Rourke, all of Louisiana.

She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1946 and made vows in 1949. She began her teaching career 1949-1958 in grade and junior high schools in Alexandria, Va., Washington, D.C., Norfolk, Va., Austin, Texas, New Your City, N.Y., and Greenbelt, Md. The bulk of her teaching career was spent in Texas, her home state, from 1958 until 1993 when she retired to Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind. Sister taught the elementary level grades in McAllen and Austin and then moved into junior high teaching at Saint Louis School, Austin, 1970-1977.

Sister moved into parish work as CCD Coordinator at Saint Mary's Parish, Taylor, Texas, and then to Sacred Heart Parish, Austin, Texas, as religious education coordinator. She went to Saint Paul's Parish, Richardson, Texas, to manage religious education and elementary education. Sister Catherine continued as religious education coordinator at Saint Paul the Apostle Parish, Corpus Christi, Texas, until 1987, and then handled the adult education of the parish until 1988. At this time she attended a Ministry to Ministers Program, returning to Corpus Christi in 1989 to Saint Theresa's Parish, again in adult religious education.

In 1990 Sister became diocesan area coordinator - religious education, for the Diocese of Corpus Christ, then in 1992 was religious education coordinator at Holy Spirit Parish School, San Antonio, Texas. From 1992 until 1995 she was in community services/social work with the San Antonio Community Law Center. In 1996, Sister resigned and returned to Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, where she did volunteer service to the community, and then was active in the Ministry of Prayer 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 the Body will be at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, to be followed by Solemn Vespers at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame.

The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.