Sister of Charity of Nazareth Mary Ellen Doyle, formerly Sister Mary Benedict, died Sept. 24 at Nazareth Home. She was 87 and had been an SCN for 67 years.
Sister Doyle, a native of Oak Park, Ill., was a writer and educator during her more than six decades of service.
She served as a teacher in the Archdiocese of Louisville at St. Agnes and St. Cecilia schools and in schools in the Diocese of Owensboro and Massachusetts.
As a professor of English with a specialization in African American literature, Sister Doyle taught at what is now Spalding University, formerly Nazareth College and Spalding College. She also taught at Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Tilitson College in Houston and Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa.
She was also active in the civil rights movement.
Sister Doyle is the author of several books, including a biography of SCN foundress Mother Catherine Spalding, “Pioneer Spirit: Catherine Spalding, Sister of Charity of Nazareth.” Her latest book, published in 2016, supplements the biography with a carefully researched collection of Mother Catherine’s correspondence, “Catherine Spalding, SCN: A Life in Letters.”
In addition, she taught English to SCN novices in India in 1976 and served as a campus minister.
Sister Doyle served in leadership for her community as the associate regional for the SCN Southern Region from 1989 to 1994.
She is survived by her brother, Joseph Patrick Doyle, her extended family and her religious community.
Funeral arrangements were pending as of The Record’s deadline Sept. 25.
