Sister Dolores Ann Dennin, IHM died in Camilla Hall on Monday, March 22, 2021 in the 73rd year of her religious life. Sister died just shy of her 91st birthday. Sister died of natural causes.
Mary Catherine Dennin was born on April 6, 1930. Her parents Aloysius Bernard and Anna (Shimp) Dennin raised their family of four in St. Patrick Cathedral Parish in Harrisburg, PA. Sister attended St. Patrick Cathedral Elementary School, followed by Harrisburg Catholic (later named Bishop McDevitt) from which she graduated in 1947. Later, while in Community, Sister earned an A.B. degree in English from Immaculata, an M.A. in English from Villanova University, and an M.A. in Guidance Counseling from Immaculata.
Mary Catherine entered our Community on September 8, 1947. She received her habit and her religious name, Sister Dolores Ann, on March 29, 1948 and she pronounced her First Vows on April 9, 1950.
Shortly after making first vows, Sister Dolores Ann went to St. Matthew School in April 1950 to teach sixth grade children. In August 1952, Sister remained at St. Matthew but received an assignment to teach eighth graders. At the end of the 1957 school year, Sister Dolores went to St. Rose of Lima in Eddystone for eighth grade. This assignment lasted only a month.
In October 1957, Sister began teaching high school students. Sister taught students at Bishop Kenrick in Center Square, Annunciation in Shenandoah, Prendergast in Drexel Hill, Central Catholic in Allentown, and Trinity in Camp Hill.
During Sister Dolores Ann’s tenure in Harrisburg, from 1979 through August 2015, Sister was a magnificent English teacher at Trinity; she cared for her dear Mom in Mom’s declining years; she then served as a counselor at Holy Spirit Mental Health Clinic; and she assisted in her convent home.
Sister Dolores Ann went to Camilla Hall in August 2015 where she served the Community in the Apostolate of Prayer. Sister lived out her final days quietly, calmly, and prayerfully until her death on March 22, 2021.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister is survived by her brother Edward Allen Dennin (Deborah), her nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents Aloysius and Anna (Shimp) Dennin, her brother Francis Xavier and her sister Claire Hensel.
Due to Covid-19, Visitation was private and a limited number of family members attended the Funeral Mass on Friday, March 26, 2021. Reverend Louis Monica, parochial vicar at SS. Peter & Paul, was the Celebrant and Homilist.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355