In Memoriam

Sr. Mary Catherine Moan, D.C.
Class of '53
Former Alumnae Board Member

Sr. Mary Catherine Moan, D.C., who received her B.A. degree from St. Joseph College in 1953, died Feb. 4, 2008 at Villa St. Michael, the Daughters’ retirement residence in Emmitsburg. She was 93 years of age, 73 years of vocation, and had served on the Board of Directors of the St. Joseph College Alumnae Association during the 1990s.

Catherine Elizabeth Moan was the fifth of 11 children born in Baltimore to Francis M. and Emma Teresa Keenan Moan. Four of Sister’s six brothers served in World War II. One was killed in action and another spent two years in a prison camp. She was very proud of her brothers’ military records. Her youngest brother, Jesuit Fr. Francis X. (Frank) Moan, S.J., presided at her funeral Mass in Emmitsburg.

Catherine graduated from Baltimore’s Seton High School in 1933, but began to consider a religious vocation in seventh or eighth grade. She entered the Daughters of Charity on Dec. 1, 1934. After receiving her habit in 1935, Catherine Elizabeth, now Sr. Mary Catherine, was missioned to Our Lady of Victory School, Portsmouth, VA., where she taught third grade (1935-1940); then to St. Ann’s School in Bridgeport, CT (1940-1943). Her next teaching assignment (1943-1945) was at St. Vincent Home and School, Washington, D.C., then St. Paul’s School, Portsmouth, VA, where she taught seventh and eighth grades (1945-1949). Sister was assigned to Utica, NY, for her next teaching assignment, then to St. Peter’s School, Wilmington, DE, (1954-1956), followed by St. Catherine Labouré School, Wheaton, MD(1956-1958).

In 1958, Sr. Mary Catherine went to work in the business office of St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore. The hospital was in the middle of a building project, so she quickly learned to read blueprints and supervise various details of construction as well as the purchase of furniture for the hospital. Her next mission was at Providence Hospital, Detroit, where she became involved in the same type of work before moving to Seton Hospital, Waterville, ME in 1967 as moving coordinator. She then served for ten years in the medical records department of DePaul Medical Center, Norfolk, VA. From 1977-80, she was at St. Vincent’s Child Care Center, Timonium, MD, leveraging her past experience in observing details of construction and ordering furnishings. Her last mission was Villa St. Michael, beginning in 1980. There she assisted with audio-visual materials, the library and driving other Sisters to appointments, etc., until failing health dictated her retirement in 2004.

A sister, Doris C. Woods, and brothers William Moan and Fr. Moan, all of Baltimore, and numerous nieces and nephews survive Sr. Catherine. Memorial contributions may be made to the Daughters of Charity Support Fund for the Elderly and Infirm Sisters, 333 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727.

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