Sister M. Barbara Ann Colligon (Formerly Sister M. Catherine William) died in Camilla Hall on June 13, 2021 in the 64th year of her religious life.
Barbara was born on August 31, 1937. Barbara’s parents, William and Catherine (Fleming) Colligon raised their family of two boys and one girl in St. Martin of Tours Parish in Philadelphia. Barbara attended St. Martin of Tours Elementary School and Little Flower High School. Barbara graduated from Little Flower in 1955. Later, while in Community, Barbara earned degrees from Immaculata College and Glassboro State.
Barbara entered the Community on July 16, 1957; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister M. Catherine William, on January 16, 1958. Sister Catherine William professed her First Vows on January 16, 1960. Very shortly after First Profession, Sister went to St. Joan of Arc in Philadelphia – her first teaching assignment: Grade 4. Sister remained at her first mission for two years.
From the fall of 1962 through June 2009, Sister Catherine served in the following places: Our Lady of Pompeii Philadelphia; St. Thomas in Croydon; Villa Maria in Falls Church, VA; St. Matthew Philadelphia; Our Lady of Ransom Philadelphia; St. John Bosco in Hatboro (where Sister served as Superior, Principal, and 7th grade teacher!), St. Ephrem; Our Lady of Grace Somerdale, NJ, and Immaculate Heart in Girardville. From August 1993 through August 1997, Sister served as Superior and 8th grade teacher in St. Clement Philadelphia (1 year) and Queen of Heaven Cherry Hill, NJ (3 years). In August 1997, Sister went to St. Michael in Annandale, VA and for the next 12 years worked with students in the Honors Math Program.
In August 2009 through August 2012, Sister Barbara worked as a very able office assistant at St. Cyril School in East Lansdowne. Sister Barbara then took advantage of the opportunity tutor students at St. Matthew School in Forestville, Connecticut from August 2012 through the end of the school year 2016.
Sister Barbara’s health diminished somewhat and in August 2016 Sister entered our Convent Home at Camilla Hall. Sister entered into the Apostolate of Prayer Community as energetically as she entered every assignment she undertook until her last breath on June 13, 2021.
Sister is predeceased by her parents William and Catherine Colligon and her brother Tom and his wife Dolores. Sister Barbara is survived by her brother Bill, his wife Marianne and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Reverend Louis Monica celebrated Sister’s Funeral Mass and delivered the homily on Friday, June 18, 2021 at 10:30 AM. May our dear Sister Barbara rest in peace.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355