Sister Eileen Rose, SNJM

Patricia E. Kelly

September 11, 1917–August 10, 2011 (Spokane, WA)

Patricia Kelly was the second child born to Patrick Joseph and Eileen Hanover Kelly, arriving September 11, 1917, in Seattle, Washington. This strong Irish family would welcome six more children. Patricia began her education at Blessed Sacrament School, and continued at Holy Names Academy. She was given a scholarship to Marylhurst College. Feeling a strong call to religious life, she entered the Sisters of the Holy Names at Marylhurst before finishing with a B.A. in Sociology. She later earned a M.A. in Sociology from Seattle University.

Sister M. Eileen Rose’s high school teaching career spanned the years from 1938 to 1952, when she became Principal of St. Francis in Eugene, Holy Names Academy in Seattle, and Holy Names in Spokane. From 1959 to 1963 she was Dean of students at Holy Names College in Spokane. During those years, the college moved from its location on Superior out to the former Fort George Wright campus. Cleaning long unused buildings and moving an entire institution offered opportunities for hard work and many stories! In 1968, S. Eileen Rose returned to the position of Principal at Holy Names in Spokane. In 1973, she was asked to work for the foundation that supports the ministries of her religious community until returning 1977 to Holy Names in Seattle as Business Manager.

In 1981, Sister began the ministry that would last the rest of her long life, that of being of service within her community at the Convent of the Holy Names. Over the years, she was Maintenance Supervisor, co-Director, organizer of the Autumn Bazaar, organizer of the Conversation Partners program with Mukagawa Fort Wright Japanese students—and anything else that needed her skills. One of the favorite of her skills was the making of peanut brittle! Pounds and pounds of peanut brittle, for Sisters, partners in ministry, for sale at the bazaar!

When she was able, Sister used to attend many funerals of friends of the Community. She kept up an unusual number of phone ministry contacts. She could edit the Christmas card list from memory! She replaced the receptionists when needed. She was always available to be present to people who just walked in the door needing to talk to someone, listening and offering her wisdom and prayers. Her heart for service is legendary, and when she could no longer see to drive or do the laundry or answer phones, she conscientiously visited in our Care Center every morning, missing only the day she died!

Sr. M. Eileen Rose loved her God, the Church, Her Community, her vocation, her family. She lived to serve. She was especially close to her one surviving sister, Eileen McCarty, and her most recent ministry was the accompaniment of her sister on Eileen’s journey to eternal life. One hour after Eileen died in Seattle, Sr. Eileen Rose died, quite unexpectedly, in Spokane. With Jesus, she seems to have said, “It is finished.”

Sister is survived by nieces and nephews who love and honor her. Sister Eileen Rose, SNJM, died Wednesday, August 10, 2011, in Spokane, Washington.