Aston, PA—Sister Kathleen Patricia McDonagh, OSF, (79) (formerly Sister Etheldreda) died in Assisi House on April 3. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 60 years. Sister Kathleen was born in County Galway, Ireland. She entered the congregation in 1951 and professed her first vows in 1954. Her sister, Sister Mary Philomena McDonagh, also entered the congregation and is deceased. Sister Kathleen ministered in domestic work, childcare, eldercare, and parish ministry.

Sister Kathleen ministered for 30 years in the Diocese of Harrisburg—all of those years in St. Cecilia Parish (formerly St. Gertrude Parish). From 1957-1958 she engaged in domestic work in the parish convent. She returned in 1977 and worked in parish ministry until 2007. Sister Kathleen also ministered for 13 years in the Diocese of Trenton. She worked in St. Rose of Lima Convent in Freehold (1954-1955) and St. Joseph Convent in Raritan (1955-1957) From 1963-1969 and again from 1970-1973, she worked in childcare at St. Michael Orphanage in Hopewell. She also cared for the elderly at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville from 1969-1970.

Sister Kathleen’s ministry in the Archdiocese of Boston included serving in domestic work at Holy Trinity Convent in Boston (1958-1961) and Our Lady of the Assumption Convent in Lynnfield (1961-1962). Additional ministry in the New England area included caring for the children in St. Mary’s Home in New Bedford in the Diocese of Fall River (1973-1977). In 2007 Sister Kathleen moved to Aston, Pennsylvania where she served as a volunteer at Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence until her death.

All services will be held in Assisi House, 610 Red Hill Road, Pennsylvania, 19014 on Tuesday, April 8. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial at will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Kathleen is survived by her sister, Nora Higgins, brother, Michael McDonagh, nieces and nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.