Sister Eileen Donahue

White Plains, NY

Sister Eileen Donahue, RDC, a member of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, died peacefully on August 27, 2008 at White Plains Hospital.

Sister Eileen was born in Waterbury, CT on May 16, 1921, the daughter of Thomas and Anastatia Donahue. Eileen had three siblings, Thomas, Mary and James, who was killed in combat in WW II.

Sister Eileen entered the Sisters of the Divine Compassion on August 15, 1939 and for a time was known as Sister Mary Eulalia. She attended Waterbury Catholic High School and received a BA degree from Good Counsel College in 1945. Sister attended Catholic University of America and earned a Masters Degree in Sociology. Her graduate study continued at Bucknell University, Kent State and the University of Georgia.

Sister Eileen had an extensive and varied teaching career, 8 years at the elementary level and 25 years at the secondary level teaching Latin, Science and Sociology. Her energy and interest brought her to Nursing as a second career and she received her RN from Pace University's Lienhard School of Nursing. She worked as a staff nurse on the surgical floor at the Westchester Medical Center until she was appointed Director of the Infirmary for the Sisters of the Divine Compassion. After many years of loving service at Good Counsel, Sister used her skills in the health care field serving migrant farmworkers and their families in Orange County at the William Thayer Alamo Migrant Clinic in Goshen, NY.

Susan Merritt, President of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, commented that "Sister Eileen was a lover of nature and her gardens were celebrated by the children and families served by the Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Compassion in Goshen, NY."

Sister Eileen is survived by her Sisters of the Divine Compassion and her cousins, Rosella Purcell and Rosemary Abdella.

Visitation will be at Good Counsel Convent, 52 N. Broadway, White Plains, NY on Thursday, August 28, from 4-8 p.m.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Divine Compassion. Internment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, White Plains.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, 52 N. Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603.

McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.