SISTER EILEEN KERNAN (FORMERLY SISTER MAUREEN)
October 13, 1930 – September 28, 2020
Our dear Sister Eileen Kernan, 89 years of age, went peacefully home to God on Monday, September 28, 2020, at the Franciscan Villa in Syracuse, NY. Sister was one of nine children born to John and Elizabeth Steele Kernan in Pittsburgh, PA. She was a member of St. Bernard Parish and attended grammar school there. She graduated from St. Francis Academy, Whitehall, PA.
Sister Eileen was received into religious life (as Sister Maureen) by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God, Pittsburgh, PA in 1951. She ministered primarily in the field of education, teaching for 26 years at various Catholic schools in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Sister earned a BS Degree in Education from Seton Hill College, Greensboro, PA and a Master’s in English from Duquesne University, Pittsburg, PA. She taught at the elementary, junior and senior high school levels. Sister also ministered in the area of social services, working at Covenant House in New York City and as a field worker for the Office of Economic Opportunity in Knox County, KY.
Sister Eileen, however, felt called to a different Franciscan experience and in 1983 she asked for and was granted a transfer to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumman Communities. This transfer led her into multiple ministries. She was able to use her secretarial skills at Bishop Ludden High School, and as secretary to the Central New York Region Ministers. Sister also held the position of Pastoral Minister at St. Aloysius Parish, Jersey City, NJ in 1989 and was Director of Religious Education at St. Lucy Parish in Syracuse, NY from 1992 to 2002.
Sister will be remembered for her deep spirituality, her compassion and concern for the poor, her conscientious work ethic, and for her kindness to all. She will also be remembered for her thought provoking “wonderings” and her standard answer of “perfect” whenever she was asked how she was.
Sister was predeceased by her brothers, Jack, James, Paul and David, and by sisters, Jean Kernan Coleman and Julia Kernan Semple. She is survived by her brother, Frank her sister, Sister Noel Kernan and niece Barbara Coleman.
There will be a private Memorial Mass for Sister Eileen at the Franciscan Villa.