- February 12, 2019
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Eleanor Agnes Sheehan, CSJ who passed away on Feb. 9 at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis, Missouri. She was 90 years of age.
Sister Eleanor Agnes was born on October 29, 1928, in Denver, Colorado, to parents James Patrick and Mary Agnes (Marron) Sheehan. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 15, 1947, was received as S. Agnes Patrice and made her final profession on August 15, 1953. She received a bachelor’s degree in American history from Fontbonne College in 1956, a master’s in dogmatic/systematic theology from Catholic University of America in 1965, and a doctorate in dogmatic theology from Catholic University of America in 1967.
Sister Eleanor began her service as an elementary teacher in St. Louis. She taught at Saints Mary & Joseph Grade School (1950-55); Nativity of Our Lord Grade School (1955-56) and Most Holy Rosary Grade School (1956-57). The following year, she was a student at Regina Mundi College in Rome, Italy. From 1958 to 1964, she was a faculty member at Fontbonne College. After completing both her master’s degree and doctorate, Sister Eleanor returned to teach at Fontbonne College.
In 1971, she served as a campus minister at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. She then served her CSJ community from 1977 to 1980 as a provincial councilor and regional superior in St. Louis. For the next three years, she was an adult education consultant at the Diocesan Religious Education Office in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii. She went on to serve for a year as a religious education teacher for adults at St. Mary Parish in Littleton, Colorado.
In 1985, Sister Eleanor began her 22-year ministry as a retreat director at Sacred Heart Retreat House in Sedalia, Colorado. She then retired to Littleton in 2007. Since 2012, Sister Eleanor has resided at Nazareth Living Center carrying out her mission of prayer and presence.
A Memorial Mass will be held Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. at Nazareth Living Center Chapel, 2 Nazareth Lane, St. Louis, MO 63129.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899. Donate online.