Sister Marie Chaminade Sheehan, O.P., a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic at Amityville for 69 years, died Nov. 30 at Carlin Hall at their Motherhouse in Amityville. She was 99.
Born and raised in College Point, she entered the congregation in 1950 and professed her final vows in 1955.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College and a master’s degree in Fine Arts from Fordham University and in arts from Columbia University; and a doctorate in education from St. John’s University, Jamaica. Her ministries included teaching at St. Agnes Academic H.S., College Point; Molloy College, Rockville Centre, L.I.; and St. Albert College, Amityville, L.I.In 1969, Sister Marie was appointed community supervisor for elementary schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn. During the eight years on that job, she lived in community at St. Fidelis Church, College Point, and at St. Catherine of Siena, St. Albans.
Sister Marie’s funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 5 at St. Albert Chapel, Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse. Burial followed in the sisters’ cemetery, Amityville.
Sister M. Chaminade and my Mother, Veronica Steinwand Pravetz, were classmates at Flushing High School, graduating in 1939. “Joanie” was a star player for the Basketball Team. For many years, she lived and worked in College Point, and the two classmates remained in touch until my Mother passed in 2006. Had they lived, they would both be celebrating their 100th Birthday in 2020.