Dominican Sister of Peace Helen O’Sullivan, OP, a native of Brooklyn, died on September 30, 2022, at age 81, at Sansbury Care Center, St. Catharine, Kentucky.
A Dominican Sister for 60 years, Sister Helen earned a Bachelor of Science in Education/ Social Science from Siena College (Memphis, Tennessee), a Master of Education in Education/Personalized Learning from Loyola University (Chicago), and a Master of Arts in Organizational Development from Loyola University (Chicago). She ministered as a teacher at St. Dominic (Springfield, Kentucky); St. James (McMechen, West Virginia); St. Luke (Ogallala, Nebraska); St. Cecilia (Hastings, Nebraska); St. Michael (Hastings, Nebraska); Our Lady of Peace (Chicago); Mt. Carmel (East Boston, Massachusetts); and East Boston Central Catholic (East Boston, Massachusetts).
Sister Helen served as principal at Resurrection School (Brooklyn) from 1977 to 1986. She also ministered as the Regional Assistant and then went on to minister as the Regional Coordinator for the Eastern Region of the former congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine, St. Catharine, Kentucky.
In 1996, Sister became the Case Manager for the Homeless at Pine Street Inn/Paul Sullivan Housing (Boston). Sister Helen held many roles with this organization, including Program Supervisor and Administrator. Sister continued in these positions until 2009 when she moved to St. Catharine Motherhouse to assume the role of Assistant Mission Group Coordinator of St. Catharine Motherhouse, St. Catharine. In 2012, Sister Helen returned to Rosary Manor (Watertown), where she provided community service. In 2017, Sister returned to St. Catharine Motherhouse (St. Catharine) to continue to provide community service. In 2020, Sister Helen moved to Sansbury Care Center (St. Catharine), where she began a ministry of prayer and presence.
Sister Helen is survived by one sister, Kathleen Sweeney; two brothers, Michael and John O’Sullivan; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral was held on October 7 at Sansbury Care Center Chapel. Burial was at St. Catharine Motherhouse cemetery.
