Jubilarian 2021 - Sister Patricia Dunphy

Sister Patricia (Pat) Dunphy was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1960 and was received into the novitiate in 1961 as Sister Michael Damien. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fontbonne College in 1966 and a master’s degree in early childhood/preschool education from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley in 1974. Sister Pat also received an administration certificate from the University of Phoenix in 1999.

Sister Pat began as an elementary teacher. She taught at Holy Rosary School in St. Louis, Missouri (1965-1972), and at St. Peter Grade School in Marquette, Michigan (1972-73). She taught and was principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grade School in Kansas City, Missouri (1973-74).

Sister Pat taught in Waco, Texas, at St. Mary Grade School from 1974 to 1979, and then added the duty of principal along with teaching from 1979 to 1982. Sister Pat served in Denver as principal at St. Catherine of Siena Grade School (1982-1985) and St. Vincent de Paul Grade School (1985-1996), and then at Our Lady of Fatima Grade School in Lakewood, Colorado (1996-1999).

Transitioning to the high school level in 1999, Sister Pat was a theology teacher at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado, from 1999 to 2004. She served in administration as principal at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis from 2004 to 2013. After a year of volunteer work, Sister Pat served as animator for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Education Association.

Since 2015, she has served her CSJ community at Nazareth Living Center, helping to care for the sister residents. She enjoys reading, the outdoors (except August in St. Louis) and fun gatherings with her CSJ community.