Sister Catherine Duignan, OP, of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, NY, passed away on June 25, 2012 in Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY. Born in County Leitrim, Ireland on November 15, 1926, Ellen Ann was the daughter of John and Catherine Dolan Duignan. Ellen came to America in 1944 at the age of seventeen and entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1950. She professed her first vows in 1952 and her final vows in 1957. Sister earned a B.S. in Education from St. Thomas Aquinas, NY and MA in Reading from Manhattan College, NY.
Throughout her professional life, Sister Catherine ministered in the Archdiocese of New York. She taught in the Bronx at St. Helena Elementary (1955-58 & 1966-77); St. Ann (1977-78); and Aquinas HS (1978-88). She also taught in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Middletown, NY (1958-60); Sacred Heart, Suffern, NY (1960-64) and Sacred Heart, Monroe, NY (1965-66). From 1989-93 Sister Catherine worked as parish secretary and then as parish minister (1993-2004) at St. Vito Parish in Mamaroneck, NY. From 2005-2011 she worked part time as receptionist at Dowling Gardens in Sparkill, NY. Sister Catherine offered local community service for Dominican Convent, Sparkill, NY right up until her untimely death this past Monday.
Sister Catherine was forever proud of her Irish heritage. She had a great love for her family and many friends. We remember well her concern for others, her gentle manner and her good sense of humor. She loved her Dominican community and served her God faithfully for sixty-one years. We thank God for her life and her goodness. May she rest in peace and joy in the arms of her loving God.