Sister Catherine T. Shanahan, 89, went peacefully home to her good God on December 21, 2023, at St. Julie Billiart Residential Care Center in Ipswich, MA. She was born in Glenolden, PA to Timothy and Catherine Shanahan. Sr. Catherine entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1951, making her First Vows in 1954 and Perpetual Vows in 1959.

Sr. Catherine graduated from Trinity College in 1959 with a BA in Education and earned her Masters in Religious Education from La Salle College in 1981. Sr. Catherine taught at Miraculous Medal in Ridgewood, NY, St. Camillus School in Silver Spring MD and served as principal at Trinity Lower School in Ilchester, MD and St. Joseph School in Beltsville, MD.

In 1972 Sr. Catherine began a long and diversified ministry at Holy Rosary Parish in Staten Island, NY. as principal of the school, Religious Education Coordinator and Pastoral Associate. Sr. Catherine facilitated many programs that served people in need. She started the program, “Rainbows” for the children in grades K-8 who were suffering from the loss of a parent of other loved one through death, divorce or separation. To mark the 75th anniversary of the parish a Prayer Garden was created with several saints, including St. Julie Billiart, the founder of the Sisters of Notre dame de Namur in memory of Sr. Catherine’s dear friend who was killed in the World Trade Center tragedy. Sr. Catherine was dearly loved as part of the parish family of Holy Rosary.

Sr. Catherine was predeceased by nine brothers and five sisters., many nieces and nephews, her Sisters and Associates in the Notre Dame community, her many friends and the devoted staff of the St. Julie Billiart Residential Care Center.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Wednesday, December 27 at 10:30 am at Our Lady Queen Chapel in Ipswich, MA, preceded by a wake service at 9:00am in the chapel. Burial will follow at the Sisters of Notre de Namur cemetery in Ipswich.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 351 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149.