Sister Eileen Lavin SUSC

Sister Eileen Lavin (Sr. Regina Miriam) SUSC died June 8, at the Fall River Jewish Home at the age of ninety. Born in New York City on October 29, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Eileen (Murtagh) Lavin. In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, she is survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Michael James, Andrew, Thomas and John Lavin.

Sister Eileen entered the Holy Union Sisters on September 8, 1955, and pronounced her final vows on August 22, 1964.

Sister Eileen was a graduate of St. Jean Baptist High School in New York City. She earned a B. S. Ed at the College of the Sacred Hearts and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College, Boston.

For over twenty-five years, Sister Eileen taught primary grades in parish schools staffed by her religious community in Massachusetts, New York and North Carolina.

After an accident affecting her vocal cords necessitated her leaving the classroom, Sister Eileen pursued a graduate program at Hunter College in New York City which prepared her to teach deaf and hard of hearing children. She became a certified teacher and led a New York City Public School classroom in the Bronx for twenty-three years. When she retired in 2008 the New York City Board of Education awarded her a special certificate in recognition of her years of dedicated service.

While a member of the Holy Union communities at St. Francis DeSales Convent in New York City and Immaculate Conception Convent in Astoria, Sr. Eileen was an active volunteer in the parish. She visited homebound parishioners and those in nursing homes and served as a Eucharistic Minister. In 2017 she moved to Fall River and joined the Holy Union Sisters at the former Landmark Residence. Ill health necessitated a move to the Jewish Home in 2022 where she resided until her death.

Sister Eileen's Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street in Fall River on June 18th at 11:00 AM. It will be preceded by a visitation from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM and Memorial Prayer at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Saint Patrick Cemetery also in Fall River.

Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Waring-Sullivan Funeral Services.

Donations in Sister Eileen's memory may be made to the Mission Advancement Office of the Holy Union Sisters, 205 Bedford St. Fall River, MA. 02720.