Sister Rose Eileen McGinn, OP, of Dominican Convent, Sparkill, New York, died on, August 5, 2013 in Siena Hall, Sparkill, NY. Born in St. Louis, MO on November 9, 1917, Margaret was the daughter of Owen and Mary Reilly Duggan. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on July 21, 1936 and became known as Sister Rose Eileen, professing her first vows in 1938 and her final vows in 1943.
Sister Rose Eileen earned a BS in Social Studies and an MA in Education from St. Louis University, MO. Sister Rose Eileen was an elementary school teacher and principal and served in the Archdioceses of New York, St. Louis and the Dioceses of Syracuse and Brooklyn. She was a teacher at St. Mary Magdalen, Springfield Gardens, NY (1939-41); St. Clare, St. Louis, MO (1941-43); St. Catherine of Siena, New York, NY (1943-44 & 1961-63 principal); St. James, St. Louis, MO (1944-45 & 1957-58); St. Mary, Fulton, NY (1949-51); Little Flower, St. Louis, MO (1951-52 & 1958-61 principal); St. Mary Magdalen, Brentwood, MO (1952-57); St. Helena, principal (1963-69); Mary Queen of Heaven, principal (1974-85). From 1969-74 Sister Rose Eileen was a teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, NY and from 1985-2002 she was a staff member of Nazareth Regional HS in Brooklyn, NY. In 2004 she became a resident of Siena Hall. Sister Rose Eileen is survived by her sister-in-law, Virginia McGinn of St. Louis, MO, her cousins Sr. Patricia Ann Reilly, OP and Sr. Eileen Reilly, OP, Sparkill Dominicans and many nieces and nephews.
Sister Rose Eileen was an educator who taught for forty-six years. She served on many educational committees and was very involved in the parishes where she served. She had many interests and enjoyed the outdoors and nature. She enjoyed swimming, bike riding and reading and any opportunities for traveling. She liked being with her friends and enjoyed a good time with them. Sister Rose Eileen was faithful to the God she served for seventy-seven years. We thank God for her life and her goodness. May the Lord shine His light upon her and give her eternal rest in the kingdom of heaven.