SINSINAWA, Wis.—Dominican Sister Mary Helen Neenan died May 17 at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa. She was 96.
The funeral Mass was in Queen of the Rosary Chapel May 21. Burial was in the motherhouse cemetery.
She was born Philomene Neenan on March 13, 1914, in St. Joseph, Mo., the daughter of Emmet and Mary Helen Liebst Neenan. She made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican March 8, 1935, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1938.
She taught for 32 years and served as principal for six of those. Sister Mary Helen led the fi rst group of four Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where she taught religious education and music at Holy Cross parish for seven years. She served in Hispanic ministry for 11 years, ministered as pastoral associate for six years, served in eldercare for three years, and volunteered in the general finance office at the motherhouse for eight.
Sister Mary Helen served in Washington, D.C., Illinois, Minnesota, South Carolina, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and Bolivia.
In the Diocese of Charleston, S.C., Sister Mary Helen taught at St. Martin de Porres in Columbia from 1941 to 1942.
She is survived by a brother, Thomas Neenan, and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI 53824 or at www.sinsinawa.org. Click on “Donate to Us,” then “Honors and Memorials.”