Lest We Forget
Sister Katherine McCarry, CSJP (1919-2009)
Katherine McCarry was born in Kildarragh, Ireland on July 9, 1919. She was one of 11 children. At the age of 16 Katherine heard a call to religious life and entered the Aspirancy in Cabra, Ireland in 1937. Although she hoped to become a nurse, there was a greater need for teachers. Responding with a willing heart to that need, she became a junior high school teacher. She earned her B.A. in Education from Western Washington University in 1946 and later received a M.A. in English from the University of Portland and a Masters in Religious Education from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. For nearly 40 years Katherine taught in Catholic schools in British Columbia, Canada, Washington and Oregon. In the 1970s she served as a Catechist in San Diego, and Sylmar, CA and Puyallup, WA.
In the early 1980s, Katherine was considering a change of ministry. On a visit to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon, she was invited to consider becoming pastoral care provider. Again with a willing heart and a spirit of service, Katherine became a certified chaplain, and for the next 15 years she provided loving care and support to patients and staff alike.
Retirement was a foreign word to Katherine. Upon completing her years of ministry at Sacred Medical Center, she heard a call, this time family ministry. Katherine’s gifts of compassion, gentle strength, deep faith and hope in God’s abiding love were called upon every day through four years of loving companionship to her sister.
In 2000 Katherine heard another invitation, this time to San Diego sunshine and life in community with Ede Reif, CSJP. Those were the days of friendship and some “lazy days.” As health needs increased, Katherine moved to St. Mary-on-the Lake, celebrating her 70th Jubilee in 2008. This past year Katherine’s health continued to decline. For a short time she was at St. Francis Care Center in Bellingham, WA.
Katherine returned home to St. Mary-on-the-Lake on Sunday, November 22nd. On the morning of Monday, November 23rd Katherine responded to another call and with a trusting heart filled with love, went home to God.