Sister of Charity of Nazareth Mary Kathleen Sheehan, formerly Mary Aurelia, died Jan. 7 at Nazareth Home in Louisville. She was 89 and in her 67th year of religious life.
Sister Sheehan, a native of Brockton, Mass., ministered as a teacher, activist and social worker.
In the Archdiocese of Louisville, she taught second-grade at the old St. Pius X School from 1958-1966.
In the late 1960s, Sister Sheehan began ministry in social work and activism focused on education and housing inequalities. In 1986, Sister Sheehan led a group of volunteers to open St. John Center, a day center for homeless men in Louisville. She served as the center’s director until her retirement in 2008.
She is survived by her sisters Margaret Cohen of North Easton, Mass., Eileen Cifizzari of Brockton and Claire McWade of Plymouth, Mass., and members of her extended family and religious community.
A wake will be held Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church on the Motherhouse campus in Nazareth, Ky. The Mass of Christian Burial — that will be streamed at www.scnfamily.org/live — will be celebrated Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Vincent de Paul Church. Burial will be in Nazareth Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Office of Mission Advancement, P.O. Box 9, Nazareth, Ky., 40048.
