Submitted by: Dan Rich
Sister M. Catherina O'Connor CSC
Jan. 11, 1923 - Feb. 24, 2004
Sister M. Catherina (Mary Cecilia O'Connor), CSC, 81, was born in Washington, D.C., to the late Patrick J. and Katherine Howard O'Connor. Her brother, Rev. John O'Connor, and sister, Anne McNerney, preceded her in death. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Behrens, of Rockville, Md.; brother-in-law, Thomas F. McNerney of Florida; and nephews, Patrick McNerney of Rockville and Michael Behrens of Olney, both of Maryland; nieces, Jane Hinton, of Gaithersburg, Md., and Kathleen Bears of Bakersfield, Calif.; and cousin, Sister Miriam Regina, CSC, of Bethseda, Md. She has two grandnieces, Jennifer Hinton at Saint Mary's College and Megan Bears, University of Notre Dame, both in Indiana.
Sister received her education at Holy Name and Holy Cross Academy in Washington, D.C., and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, July 13, 1940. She made first vows Aug. 15, 1943, and final profession Aug. 15, 1946. She attended Dunbarton College, Washington, D.C., and gained her bachelor of arts degree in history and philosophy. In 1968 she received her MA in American and European history from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Sister was trained as a teacher and taught in elementary schools in Washington, D.C. She was assigned as teacher and principal at St. Bernard's, Riverdale, Md. She moved into secondary schools teaching history, was appointed principal at St. Paul's, New York, taught history at St. Patrick's, Washington, D.C., then moved to Holy Cross, Austin, Texas, in 1967 as assistant principal, dean of girls and taught history. In 1970 Sister was named chairman of the Social Science Dept. at Holy Cross, Riverside, N.J. In 1981 she was assigned to The Academy of the Holy Cross, Kensington, Md., as teacher of social sciences. She became office assistant and receptionist at The Academy in 1994 and remained in that position until she retired to Saint Mary's Convent in 2001. She 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 service Friday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m. in Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. Funeral service on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10:30 a.m., Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.