Sister Ann Kavanagh, RDC (Thomas Marie), a member of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion for 63 years, died after a brief illness on January 31, 2024 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Patterson, New Jersey.
Sr. Ann was born in Elmhurst, N.Y. on May 20, 1939 to Charles and Catherine O’Donnell Kavanagh. Sister earned her bachelor's degree in social studies education from Good Counsel College, a master's degree in social studies education from CCNY, and was awarded a NYS Certificate in school administration.
Sr. Ann entered the Sisters of the Divine Compassion on September 8, 1961, and made her perpetual profession in 1969.
Sister's ministries over the years took her from St. Frances de Chantal School in the Bronx to Good Counsel Academy Elementary School in White Plains. For over 20 years, Sr. Ann was the principal at St. Joseph's Elementary School in Croton Falls, N.Y. Since 1995, Sr. Ann worked in Catholic Elementary Education in the dioceses of Metuchen and Newark in New Jersey.
Sr. Ann loved the children of her professional and personal life. As one of her nieces shared, "Ann was most at home up to her knees in children." Early in her years in ministry, Sister changed her religious name from Sr. Thomas Marie to Sr. Ann, but perhaps her favorite reference was Aunt Ann, the beloved family elder whose presence at family gatherings meant unconditional love, acceptance and presents for the nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews of her loving and extensive Kavanagh family.
Sr. Ann is survived by her Sisters of the Divine Compassion, her brother, Bob and her sister, Ellen. She is predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Richard, John and James and her sisters, Kay and Joan.
Sr. Ann's wake will be held at McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home, Inc. on Monday afternoon, February 5th from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
An additional visitation service will be held Tuesday, February 6th at the Chapel of the Divine Compassion from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a welcome service at 10:30 a.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m..
Memorial donations may be sent to the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, 52 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603.