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Mary Ellen Doyle, SCN, 87, formerly Sister Mary Benedict, a native of Oak Park, Illinois, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 24, 2019. She was a professed Sister for 67 years.
Emily Nabholz, SCN, 91, formerly Sister Bernard Maria, a native of Conway, Arkansas, died at Flaget Hospital, Bardstown, Kentucky, Oct. 8, 2019. She was a professed Sister for 69 years.
Mary Stephen Breznay, SCN, 87, a native of Munhall, Pennsylvania, died at Vincentian Home, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Oct. 9, 2019. She was a professed Sister for 70 years.
Sister Mary Ellen served as a teacher for 45 years. She taught at grade schools in Kentucky, including St. Agnes and St. Cecilia in Louisville, St. Mary Academy in Paducah, and Cathedral School in Owensboro. Sister Mary Ellen taught at Our Lady of Nazareth, Wakefield, Massachusetts. She also taught at Nazareth College in Nazareth; Spalding College in Louisville; Christian Brothers College, Memphis, Tennessee, Huston-Tillotson College, Austin, Texas; and Divine Word Seminary, Epworth, Iowa. She specialized in African-American literature and English. Sister Mary Ellen also taught SCN novices in India, and served as campus minister at Aquinas College in Newton, Massachusetts. In 1989, she began her term as SCN associate regional for the Southern Region. Sister Mary Ellen published three books.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Nazareth College (now Spalding University), a master’s in psychiatric nursing from Catholic University of America, and a doctorate in public health from UCLA.
Sister Mary Stephen received her Bachelor of Education degree from Duquesne University and served as an elementary teacher for 40 years in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Youngstown, Ohio, Mobile, Alabama, and Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Sister Mary Ellen is survived by her brother, Joseph Patrick Doyle, her family, and by her religious community.
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In Louisville, Kentucky, she served at St. Joseph Infirmary from 1950 to 1956, and as director of nursing at Our Lady of Peace from 1958-1968. After earning her doctorate in public health, Sister Emily was appointed director of health to collaborate with SCNs missioned in hospitals. At Weber Retreat Center in Adrian, Michigan, she offered retreats and spiritual direction. In 1985, Sister Emily became Southern Provincial. In 1988, she was elected president of the SCN Congregation. From 1994 until her death, she was a spiritual director.
After her long career in education, she continued to serve through her ministry to the infirmed Sisters, Vincentian Childcare Center, and as the manager of the convent gift shop. Sister Mary Stephen was most proud of her “Sister of the Year Award” presented to her by the Knights of Columbus. It recognized her deep commitment to teaching. Sister Mary Stephen is survived by nieces and nephews, and by her religious community.
Sister Emily is survived by two brothers, Charles and Tom, and by many nieces and nephews, and by her religious community.
SIS TERS OF CHARIT Y OF NA Z ARE TH • VOL . I 2020
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