“Sister Kathy was a kind, understanding, and compassionate teacher whose students will long remember the science lessons they learned as well as the gentleness, patience, and love shown to them.”
Sister Kathleen Doherty was born on April 1, 1944 in Jersey City, NJ, the second of three daughters born to John and Margaret O’Connor Doherty. She attended Our Lady of Angels School in Brooklyn and Saint John Villa Academy on Staten Island. Kathy entered the Sisters of Saint John the Baptist on September 1, 1962. She received a BS in Science from Seton Hall University, an MS in Environmental Science from CCNY and an MS in Religious Education from Fordham University.
Most of Sister Kathy’s years of ministry were spent in education where she was known as a very dedicated teacher. As a Sister of Saint John the Baptist, she taught in Saint Bernard School, Plainfield, NJ; Saint Dominic School, Bronx; Saint John Villa Academy, Staten Island; La Salle Academy, Manhattan, and Mount Saint John Academy in Gladstone, NJ. She lived for a year in the Aletheia House of Prayer in New York City and then returned to teaching at La Salle Academy. In 1987, Sister Kathy began the formal process to transfer to the Sisters of Charity of New York and in September 1991, the transfer of her vows was accepted by the Congregation.
Sister Kathy worked with the Little Sisters of the Assumption as Coordinator of the Family Life Program for three years and then returned to teaching science at Iona Prep School, New Rochelle; Cardinal Spellman High School, Bronx; and the Grace Outreach Program, Bronx, and as a tutor for the New York Foundling in Queens and Abraham House in the Bronx.
Sister Kathy was a kind, understanding and compassionate teacher whose students will long remember the science lessons they learned and the gentleness, patience and love shown to them. She went above and beyond to help her students with academic as well as personal problems. She gave herself joyfully to people and to all of creation. Sister Kathy had a deep sense of the presence of God in all things great and small, in our universe, in our planet and in all of life.
Sister Kathy, you are now caught up in the mystery and energy of the cosmos where God’s everlasting love enfolds you forever.
DATE OF DEATH
September 14, 2015
AGE
71
WAKE
Mount Saint Vincent Convent
6301 Riverdale Ave.
Bronx, NY 10471
Monday, September 21, 2015
2:00–6:30 pm
4:30 pm Prayer Service
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
College of Mount Saint Vincent
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
9:00 am
MASS OF THE RESURRECTION
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
College of Mount Saint Vincent
Tuesday, September 22, 2015, 10:00 am
INTERMENT OF CREMAINS:
Mount Saint Vincent Cemetery (at a later date)
Ministries
Archdiocese of New Jersey
- St. Bernard, Plainfield
1964–1967, Teacher, Gr. 6–8 - St. Bernard, Plainfield
1978–1979, Teacher, Gr. 8 - Mt. St. John, Gladstone
1982–1983, Teacher, Religion, Science
Archdiocese of New York
- St. Dominic School, Bronx
1967–1968, Teacher, Gr. 5 - Cardinal Spellman H.S., Bronx
1995–2003, Teacher, Science - Grace Outreach, Bronx
2003–2005, Teacher, Science - Abraham House, Bronx
2006–2015, Tutor - St. John Villa Academy, Manhattan
1968–1978, Teacher, Religion - LaSalle Academy, Manhattan
1979–1982, 1984–1989; Teacher, Religion, Science - Little Sisters of the Assumption, Manhattan
1989–1992, Coordinator, Family Life Program - Iona Prep, New Rochelle
1992–1995, Teacher, Science - New York Foundling, Queens
2005–2006, Tutor
Rest in Peace Sr. Kathleen. You were one of my favorite SJVA High School teachers. You will be remembered and missed by many. I will keep your family and your sisters of Sisters of Charity and sisters of St. John the Baptist in my prayers.
Sr.Kathleen was a great teacher and spiritual inspiration. I am a better person for having known her. She, her family and religious community will be in my prayers.
Thank you Sr. Kathleen for coming into our lives. You “demystified” religious life and showed us all how to live our religious beliefs, not just practice them. Thank you for teaching us about the wonders of the world, as well as giving us the courage to ski down mountains. Most of all, thank you for sharing your faith that is eternal and will live on in each person that crossed your path.
We were both fortunate to be educated by the Sisters of Charity and Sisters of Saint John the Baptist. God bless and rest in peace.
i am so saddened by this news. Sister Kathleen was a favorite teacher and especially loved by the Class of 1976 at St. John Villa Academy. May she rest in eternal peace and may God bless her with life everlasting.
Dear, sweet Sister Kathleen, my heart is at once joyful that you have attained your Heavenly reward and broken because you left us too soon. Alas, it is not for us to question our Lord’s will. I had hoped to see you next year at my class’ 40th reunion; I would have told you yet again how very much your gentle, loving influence enriched my life. You instilled in me a love of skiing, horseback riding, Chemistry (!), dancing, and lighthearted laughter. To this day I think of you every time I hear the song “Jumping Jack Flash!” You showed me the power of positive thinking and its wondrous effects on self-fulfilling prophesies. You led by example in teaching love and compassion for our fellow earthly travelers. You lived the rewards that come from loving our Heavenly Father and trusting fully in His will.
Sister Kathleen, I believe you knew how close to my heart you were. I pray that one day we will meet again. Until then, rest gently in the palm of our Lord’s mighty hand. No, on second thought, dance in His palm and ski down His fingertips! Surely that is more your style, and an extra special reason He loves you so much! <3 <3
Sr Kathleen had a gift for connecting with her students in a way that was uplifting and inspirational. She was an excellent chemistry teacher at SJVA. However I remember her most for her support and coaching during my time on the student council … her words of wisdom and leadership helped then and throughout my career… Thank you Sr a Kathleen …enjoy you deserved place in the arms of our Lord
Sister Kathleen was one of those special people in this world and if you knew Sister Kathleen, you would forever be changed. She had tremendous faith and love and my life is better for having known her. God brought her home, much too young but she raised my faith. I will see her again. I know for sure because of all my teachers Sister Karhleen showed me faith like no other. I could almost hold it in my hands being with her.
Blessed is she who Believed that The Lord would fulfill his promises to her. Luke 1:45 Thank you for changing my world. God bless and may you rest in the arms of the Lord. (SJVA ’75)
Sister Kathleen, thank you for great lessons in religion at La Salle Academy. God rest your soul.
Sister Kathy was an aunt by marriage. It was an honor and a privilege to have her in my extended family.
Aunt Kathy was a remarkable and an incredible woman. Her inter-religious outreach to all people of all faiths was extraordinary. She delivered a prayer at our wedding that was absolutely remarkable in its openness to all of our guests who came from many different faith backgrounds (or no faith at all). I was deeply impressed with her Thanksgiving prayers where she would be able to interweave all of the world’s major religions in just a few minutes and conclude with the Sanskrit greeting “namaste”. Her compassion and understanding were boundless, her dedication to helping students, parents, and anyone who needed help was extraordinary.
As a Jewish person I endeavor to understand and appreciate the New Testament. A few times in my life I have been privileged to meet Christians who can help me understand the power and beauty of the teachings of Jesus. Aunt Kathy did this for me every time we interacted. Her heart, her compassion, her actions demonstrated this power and beauty and brought me the ability to understand His word – and with a greater understanding of my own spirituality and purpose in my life.
My life and my family’s has been brightened by her presence. But now a powerful light has gone out in our world. May her deeds in life serve as her memory in death and may her memory be a blessing to all of the people of all the faiths she touched in her lifetime.
Blessings to the Sisters of Charity and my prayers to all of you to carry on the good deeds that Aunt Kathy performed with you in her lifetime.
Rest in peace sr kathleen i love you so much you will always have a special place in my heart . Thank you for all these years you gave me support and care for me. I will always remember you
Kathy was more than a science teacher, she lived her faith and taught all of us at Villa to love the Lord. I would not be the woman I am today if not for her and all the Baptistines. May she rest with our heavenly savior. With my sincere gratitude
Villa ’75
I taught with Sr. Kathy in La Salle Academy. I had no idea she passed. My condolences.