Sister Colleen Hennessey, SSND

Sister Colleen Hennessey died at St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, MS around 8:20 AM on August 19, 2019.  Prayer Service and Visitation for Sister Colleen will begin at 9:00 AM Friday, August 23 at St. Teresa Church in Chatawa.  The Eucharistic Celebration will follow at 10:30 AM.  Rev. Suresh Thirumalreddy, Pastor of St. Teresa Parish, will be the celebrant.

Audrey Ann was born on June 10, 1927 in St. Louis, Missouri.  She was the eldest of 2 children.  She is survived by her brother, Thomas James Hennessey and his children Thomas Hennessey, JR. (Michelle), Mary H. Recker (Ronnie), Colleen H. Motz (Steve), Patricia H. Smyre, Kevin Hennessey (Linda) and Timothy Hennessey (Rita), and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Hennessey and her mother, Alice (Lamb) Hennessey, and beloved sister-in-law Marie Hennessey.

Sister Colleen completed her high school education at Rosati Kain In St. Louis and entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame convent in 1945 and professed her vows in 1948.  Sister received her BA degree from Webster College, her Masters in Education from DePaul University and her Doctoral degree from University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. 

Sister Colleen taught every grade level from Kdg. thru Graduate School.  Sister taught and was in administration in schools in Missouri, Louisiana and Texas.  Sister served as Diocesan Supervisor of archdiocese of New Orleans Catholic Schools in her early years in Administration.  She was Dean of the College of Education at the University of Dallas and Superintendent of Catholic Schools In the diocese of Galveston/Houston for 26 years.

Sister was President of St. Michael’s school in New Orleans and also served as Eucharist Minister to the homebound in St. Angela Merici Parish. 

Sister retired at 92 years of age to St. Mary of the Pines community in January, 2019.

Pall bearers are from the Charles R. Brill Council of the Knights of Columbus.  Burial will be in the Chatawa Cemetery.

Memorials for the retirement care of the School Sisters of Notre Dame may be sent to St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, MS  39657.

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