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Grace Mary Whittaker, SCN, 85, a native of Bradford, Massachusetts, died at the SCN Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, Nov. 29, 2020. She was a professed Sister for 62 years.
Miriam Catherine Corcoran, SCN, 96, formerly Sister Mary Andrea, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Dec. 10, 2020. She was a professed Sister for 75 years.
After graduating high school in Boston, Massachusetts, Sister Grace Mary entered the novitiate in 1955. Among her early ministries in Kentucky, Sister Grace Mary served at the Infants Home in Louisville beginning in 1958; taught first and second grade 1959-1961 at St. Pius X in Calvert City; and served in the library at St. Vincent 1961-1963. She was a nurse’s assistant at the Motherhouse Infirmary from 1963-1966 and 19701972; ministered in the Medical Records Department at Our Lady of Peace Hospital, Louisville, 1966-1967; and served at Nazareth College 1967-1970.
Sister Miriam entered the novitiate in 1944. She was a lifelong educator and for nearly six decades taught elementary, high school, college, and also adult education students. Sister Miriam taught at St. Anne, Memphis, Tennessee, 19451947; La Salette Academy, Covington, Kentucky, 1947-1950; and Presentation Academy, Louisville, from 1950-1961, and returning from 1996-2015, in community outreach, where a scholarship was set up in her honor. In Massachusetts, she taught at Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree, 1966, and pursued her doctorate at Tufts University, Medford, from 1966-1970. She was in London, England for periods of time in conjunction with Tufts in 1967, 1968, and 1969. She was in ministry at Spalding College (later Spalding University), Louisville, in various capacities, first in education from 19701971 and 1974-1990, and later in outreach ministry from 1996-2015. Additional ministries include Confirmation Director at St. Thomas More Parish, Louisville, 1990-1994, and in SCN Community Service as a researcher/author from 1994-1996. Sister Miriam was greatly respected as a devoted educator in English, speech and drama, and as a historian. She mentored countless young women. Sister Miriam spent three months in India in 1986 teaching Novices. Throughout the ministry of these young women, she took great care to keep up with their ministries. Sister Miriam was also active in social justice, vigils for peace, and could often be found attending funerals to honor the memory of those who had been part of SCN schools and ministries.
From 1972-1991, Sister Grace Mary served at the front desk of the Motherhouse, where she greeted guests and operated the switchboard; she served again in this capacity from 1992-2002. Among her other many ministries was hospitality at the Guest House, helping in the SCN Ceramics Shop and the Thrift Shop, volunteering at St. Joseph Montessori, and at the Visitors Center, as well as serving communion. Sister Grace Mary helped with SCN mission trips to Appalachia and New Orleans, Louisiana. Sister Grace Mary attended Nun Build three times, joining women religious from across the country in helping to rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She is survived by her sisters, Ann Whittaker, SCN, and Clare; and brothers John and James; nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.
Sister Miriam is survived by extended family and by her religious community.
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Patricia Norton, SCN, 83, formerly Sister Patrick Maria, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, died at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Dec. 24, 2020. She was a professed Sister for 63 years. Sister Pat served in educational ministries for many years, teaching primary grades at schools in Kentucky and Tennessee from 1957-1973. She was principal at Sacred Heart School in Hickman, Kentucky, and St. William School in Millington, Tennessee. She served in pastoral ministry from 1977-1987 at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts. From 19872011, she served as chaplain for Caritas Good Samaritan Hospice in Norwood, Massachusetts. Sister Pat served her SCN Community as treasurer for the province in Memphis, Tennessee, from 1973-1977. Sister Pat is survived by her nieces and nephews Patricia Fleming, Maureen McKillop, Kathleen McPhee, Mary Beth Simmons, Paul Norton, and Wayne Shepherd; 13 great-nieces and nephews and three great-great nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.
Honorary and Memorial Donations With gratitude, gifts are acknowledged that support ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in memory or in honor of others. To view a listing visit: scnfamily.org/hons
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