Obituary: Sister Katherine McKenna, PBVM, 82

Sister Katherine Mc-Kenna, formally known in religious life as Sister Mary Joan, died Aug. 14.
She was born Sept. 9, 1943, to Mary T. (Burns) McKenna and J. Joseph McKenna in Central Falls, Rhode Island. At the time of her death, Sister Katherine resided at Notre Dame Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Worcester.

Sister Katherine graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and, upon graduation, entered the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 15, 1961. She received the habit July 2, 1964, and professed her final vows August 15, 1969.

Sister Katherine received her bachelor’s degree in education from Regina Coeli College and began her ministry as an elementary and secondary English teacher at Holy Family School, St. Bernard’s Elementary and St. Bernard’s High School in Fitchburg.

Sister Katherine extended her ministries after obtaining a master’s in psychology and counseling from Assumption University, and a master’s in applied theology from Graduate Theological Union in Berkley, California. This brought her to the position of director of college chaplaincy at Fitchburg State University and Quinsigamond Community College.

Sister Kathleen also worked at Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River, as a chaplain, and as a pastoral associate at Christ the King Parish and St. Mary’s Parish in the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut. Prior to retiring, Sister Katherine served as director of mission integration at Notre Dame Health Care, Worcester.

Sister Katherine served in congregational offices as director of the associate ministers and on its leadership team as a councilor. Being a strong supporter of the Nora Cronin Presentation Academy in Newburgh, New York, she served as director of institutional advancement.

Along with her Presentation community, Sister Katherine is survived by her sister, Margaret Mc-Kenna; nephews Michael Miller and his partner Heidi Flood and David Miller and his wife Anna Stein; grandnieces, Olivia, Sage and Eliza; a grandnephew, Oliver, and a host of cousins, close friends and former colleagues.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Curley Marchand Funeral Home, 89 West St. in Leominster.

A Mass of Christian burial was to be celebrated Thursday at Notre Dame du Lac Chapel, 555 Plantation St, Worcester, at 10:30 a.m., with burial at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Fitchburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 84 Presentation Way, New Windsor, New York 12553.