Sister Kathleen HARRIGAN CSJ

1923 - 2022

SISTER KATHLEEN HARRIGAN, (SR. MARY WINIFRED) CSJ
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada announces the death of our dear Sister Kathleen Harrigan at Mount St. Joseph, Peterborough, on July 18, 2022. In her 82nd year of religious life. Sister Kathleen was born on the family farm in Kirkfield, Ontario, in 1923, and was one of eleven children.

Sister Kathleen is predeceased by her parents, the late Winifred Cecilia (Fountain) and John Alexander Harrigan as well as her brothers John "Jack" (Margaret), Dan (Greta), Jim, Michael, Joseph and Patrick and her sisters Rita (Wally) Ford, Patricia (Pete) Vandeloo and Teresa (Nick) Carpe and brother-in-law Robert "Bob" McNenly. She is survived by her sister, Mary McNenly, as well many nieces and nephews. She is lovingly remembered by the members of her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada.

Kathleen entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough in 1940 and was known as Sister Mary Winifred. Upon completion of Teacher's School, Sister Kathleen taught at St. Peter's School in Peterborough. For the next twelve years she taught in various elementary schools in Ontario which included Almonte, Ottawa, St. Andrew's West. She was the President of O.E.C.T.A in Ottawa while teaching there. She then returned to St. Peter's High School in Peterborough where she taught intermediate grades for the next 9 years.

At the High School Sister Kathleen changed roles to become School Librarian, receiving her degree of Bachelor of Library Science in 1970 at the University of Ottawa. After four years as Librarian, she accepted a teaching position for the Kitimat mission in British Columbia. Her twenty-seven years in education were followed by 13 years in Administrative work at Marycrest, Home for the Aged, in Peterborough. She received her Certificate in Administration of Homes for the Aged from McMaster University and became the full time Administrator of Marycrest until her retirement to Lindsay in September of 1989. Sister Kathleen assisted in the research and writing of the chapter on the history of St. Joseph's Hospital in the Congregational History "As The Tree Grows", published in 1992. Sister Kathleen returned to Lindsay from 1993-97 where she was very involved in volunteer community work with St. Mary's Parish in pastoral and palliative care activities. Sister Kathleen retired to Mount St. Joseph in 2013.
Sister Kathleen is remembered for her administrative talents, her gentle smile and willing desire to help where needed and being an avid reader.
Private prayer service will be at Mount St. Joseph, 1555 Monaghan Road, Peterborough on July 21, 2:30 p.m.
Public Visitation will be at Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre, 356 Rubidge St. Peterborough, ON K9H 4C7 on Thursday, July 21, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, July 22 at 10:00 a.m. at Mount St. Joseph Chapel, Peterborough. Live streaming will be available at www.csjcanada.org/funeral/Harrigan2022
This will be followed by interment at Highland Park Cemetery, Peterborough.
Expressions of sympathy in memory of Sister Kathleen can be made at www.csjcanada.org - Donate.