Sister Kathleen Dolores Keenan IHM died in Camilla Hall on Good Friday, April 15, 2022 in the 75th year of her religious life.
Dorothea Marie Keenan was born on August 9, 1929 in Philadelphia, PA. Her parents William and Catherine (Costello) Keenan raised the family of seven children in St. John the Baptist Parish in Philadelphia, PA. Dorothea attended St. John the Baptist Elementary School (1935-1943) and St. the Baptist High School (1943-1947). Later while in community, Sister earned degrees from Immaculata College (Music and Spanish) and St. Charles Seminary (Sacred Scripture).
Dorothea entered the Community on August 15, 1947. She received her habit and her religious name, Sister Kathleen Dolores, on March 29, 1948. Sister pronounced her First Vows on April 9, 1950.
From April 1950 through March 1968, Sister Kathleen taught music and classroom instruction to children in Our Lady of the Angels, Philadelphia; St. Joseph, Hatboro; and Holy Trinity, Morrisville. In March 1968 through January 1974, Sister Kathleen taught music to students at Villa Maria in Lima, Peru. When Sister returned from South America, she taught in Central Catholic High School in Allentown through June 1975.
Sister Kathleen then served as superior and principal at St. John Bosco in Hatboro for three years, and at St. Catharine in Reading for six years. In August 1984 through August 1987, Sister served as sixth grade teacher and superior at Our Lady of Grace in Somerdale.
From August 1987 through August 1996, Sister taught eighth grade students at St. Peter School in Reading. At the end of this school year, Sister taught students in the Honors Math program at St. Matthew in Forestville, CT through the school year ending in 1999. In the fall of 1999, Sister went to St. Teresa School in Runnemede, NJ where she served students in grades 5-8 in the Honors Math Program through June 2010. Sister remained in St. Teresa Parish to serve the people of the parish in Pastoral Ministry until September 2015.
Sister Kathleen’s final mission was Camilla Hall Infirmary/Convent where she served faithfully and joyfully as a member of the Apostolate of Prayer and Assistance until her death on Good Friday, April 15, 2022. May her beautiful soul rest in peace.
Sister Kathleen’s IHM Community, her Camilla Hall Community, her nieces, nephews, many grandnieces and grandnephews survive Sister. Sister’s parents William and Catherine (Costello) Keenan, her brothers James Joseph, Rev. Walter Joseph, William Joseph, John Joseph and her sisters Marguerite Kohler and Catherine Whitaker predecease Sister.
The Most Reverend Edward M. Deliman celebrated Sister’s Funeral Mass on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Reverend John Burger, SSC, Reverend Michael Callahan, C.M. and Reverend George Winne concelebrated with Bishop Deliman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355