Submitted by: Dan Rich
Sister Kathleen A. Nelligan CSC
Aug. 25, 1916 - Jan. 17, 2004
South Bend Tribune 1/19/2004
Sister Kathleen Anne Nelligan (Sister Mary Clara) C.S.C., was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to the late Simon A. and Kathleen Graves Nelligan. Her sister-in-law, Virginia F. Nelligan, and niece, Micaela Nelligan, both of Salt Lake City, survive Sister. She is also survived by niece, Peggy (Dan) Davis; nephew, Sean Nelligan of North Carolina; and cousin, Robert Gilmore of California.
Sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross July 2, 1934, and made her first profession Feb. 2, 1937. She trained as an elementary teacher and taught at Holy Cross School, Ventura, Calif., 1938-1940, at St. Matthew's School, San Mateo, Calif., 1940-1941 and 1944-1948. She taught at Holy Rosary School, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 1941-1944, and was assigned as teacher and principal at St. Stanislaus, Modesto, Calif., 1948-1954. Sister was then assigned to Stella Maris Academy, LaJolla, Calif., 1954-1955, teacher and principal at St. Matthew's, Seattle, Wash., 1955-1961 and Holy Cross High School, Mountain View, Calif., as the business manager and treasurer, 1961-1967.
In 1967, Sister Kathleen Anne was elected First Councilor for the Western Province and was in the Provincial House, Watsonville, Calif., until 1969. She was elected Regional Superior for the Western Region and was in the Regional House, San Jose, Calif., 1969 until 1973 when she was elected Superior General for the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Sister was in this office from 1973-1979 and resided at Saint Mary's Generalate, Notre Dame, Ind.
After her term in office for the Congregation, Sister Kathleen Anne transferred to Biloxi, Miss., Santa Maria Del Mar Senior Citizens Center as Residence Manager. Sister was made Superior at Saint Catherine's by the Sea, Ventura, Calif., 1982-1986 when she went on Sabbatical leave to Saint Elizabeth's Parish, Richfield, Utah. There Sister took time to rest and relax for a year and then was active in the Parish as office manager. In 1992 Sister Kathleen Anne retired to Saint Mary's, Marian Convent, and because of diminished health, to Saint Mary's Convent. Sister 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.
Wake services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, in Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's Notre Dame, Ind. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.