Sister Catherine Florence O’Connor, OP, of the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, New York, died on January 16, 2018 in Dominican Convent’s Siena Hall, Sparkill, NY.
Born in New York, NY on February 17, 1922 Julia was the daughter of Florence and Catherine Sullivan O’Connor. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on February 2, 1942 and received the name Sister Catherine Florence. She professed her first vows in 1943 and her final vows in 1948.
Sister Catherine Florence received her BS in English, Manhattan College, Bronx, NY 1952 and both her MA in Business Education (1954) and a Certificate in Administration and Supervision (1971) from Columbia University, NY.
During her years in education, Sr. Catherine Florence O’Connor served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware as teacher, principal and associate professor. In St. Louis, Sr. Catherine Florence served at St. Mark’s School from 1943-46.
Returning to New York, she worked in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn at St. Ann’s School (1946-47), Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (1947-52), Aquinas High School (1952-55), Cathedral High School (1955-58), Albertus Magnus High School (1958-63), St. Thomas Aquinas College (1958-63), St. Gregory Barbarigo School (1963-69), St. Helena High School (1969-70) and Mary Queen of Heaven (1971-74). From 1970-1971 then 1975 to 1987, Sr. Catherine Florence served as Principal and Parish Minister in SS Peter and Paul Parish in Easton, MD. Sister returned to New York and from 1987 to 2005 was at Aquinas High School where she worked as school librarian and substitute teacher before retiring to Dominican Convent, Sparkill, NY.
Sister Catherine Florence is predeceased by her parents Florence and Catherine Sullivan O’Connor and her siblings Daniel, Bernard, John, Charles, James, Teresa Flooks and her niece Joanne Procius. She is survived by her sister, Mary Deutschle, in Sarasota, FL and several nieces and nephews as well as grand and great nieces and nephews.
Sister Catherine Florence O’Connor was a kind and compassionate person. She served her God and congregation faithfully for almost seventy-six years as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill. We thank God for her life and her goodness and we pray she be brought swiftly into the fullness of joy in the presence of the God she loved and so faithfully served. We will miss her presence among us.