Sr. Catherine Duignan

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 Nov. 15, 1926, Ellen Ann was the daughter of John and Catherine Dolan Duignan. Ellen came to America in 1944 at the age of 17 and entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on Sept. 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. Vio 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 is predeceased by her parents, John and Catherine Duignan; her brothers and sisters, Joseph, Anne (Sister Columcille), William, Brigid, Margaret, Hubert and James. She is survived by her sister, Mary McKeon, Co. Leitrim, Ireland; her 17 nieces and nephews; 27 great-nieces; and many relatives and friends.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebraed at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel, Dominican Convent, Sparkill, NY on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation is on Friday, June 29, 2012 from 3:30 to 8 p.m. at the Convent, 175 Rte. 340, Sparkill, NY. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery in Sparkill. Arrangements are by Higgins Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, send donations to Dominican Sisters, at the above address, attention: Sister Mary Murray, President.