Obituaries

Obituaries, Week of August 22, 2020

Sister Marion Lenihan, R.S.M.

Sister Marion Lenihan, R.S.M., formerly Sister Mary David, a member of the Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community for 78 years, died on June 25, at Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood, NY. She was 95.

Born in Brooklyn, she attended Holy Innocents School and Mercy Juniorate HS.

Sister Marion entered the Sisters of Mercy Novitiate in Syosset in Feb. 1942, and professed her final vows in Sept. 1947.

She received a BS in Education from Fordham University, an MA in Religion from Providence College and a Certificate in Elementary Education from St. John’s University.

Sister Marion served at St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands (1944-46), St. Patrick, Bay Shore (1946-48), St. Gerard Majella, Hollis (1948-57), and St. Joseph HS (1982-86).  She served as founding principal of Holy Trinity, Whitestone (1967-75), and principal of St. Jerome’s, East Flatbush (1977-82). From 1975 to 1977 she was Supervisor of Schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn and was Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph the Worker, Patchogue, NY, (1986-94).

In addition to her ministry in education, Sister Marion was instrumental in the formation of future Sisters of Mercy for 10 years (1957-67) as Assistant Mistress of Novices at Our Lady of Mercy Novitiate in Syosset, NY. 

Sister Marion is survived by her sisters, Eileen Noble and Evelyn Dastis and many loving nieces and nephews.

Burial was held in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale.


Sister Kathleen Quinn, R.S.M.

Sister Kathleen Quinn, R.S.M., formerly Sister Mary Sheila, a member of the Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community for 69 years, died on July 18, at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Whitestone, NY. She was 90.

Born in Ohio, she returned to Ireland with her family as a child and attended National School, Stranolar, Co. Donegal, and Finn Secretarial School.

She entered the Sisters of Mercy Novitiate in Syosset in September 1951 and professed her final vows in March 1957.

Sister Kathleen received a BA in Education from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, and an MS in Education from Fordham University.

She began her ministry in Child Care at St. Mary’s Home in Syosset (1954 and 1965-66), followed by Mercy Home for Children (1954-65). Her ministry in education began at Holy Rosary, Bedford-Stuyvesant (1966-74), and Martin de Porres West (1974-78).

Sister Kathleen was principal of St. Gerard Majella, Hollis (1978-87), and St. Helen, Howard Beach (1988-93).

In 1987, she spent a year at St. Fidelis Church, College Point, in Pastoral Care.

She was also a team member of the Sisters of Mercy Community Administration from 1993-2001 as Ministry and justice Coordinator.

Her final ministry before retiring in 2011 was as founder of the Dorothy Bennett Mercy Center, Fort Greene, where she served as Director for ten years.

Her ministry of child welfare, education, community leadership, and work among the poor penetrated her entire life and affected many people.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at Holy Trinity Church in Whitestone. Burial followed in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn.

Sister Kathleen is survived by her brother, Kieran Quinn, and sister, Ann Gallagher, in Ireland, and many loving nieces and nephews.


Mrs. Elizabeth Corraya, mother of Father Mintu Rozario, a priest of the Diocese of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, who is presently ministering as a Parochial Vicar of Corpus Christi R.C. Church, Woodside, died on Aug.4 in Bangladesh, where all arrangements have taken place.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.

If you wish to send condolences, please mail to Reverend Mintu Rozario, Corpus Christi R.C. Church, 31-30 61st St, Woodside, NY 11377.