Sister Mary Declan Foley

1915 - 2014

Sister Mary Declan Foley (Eileen Catherine Foley), a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, West Hartford, CT died at the Monsignor Bojnowski Manor in New Britain on October 8, 2014. Born in Hartford, CT on January 29, 1915, of the late Patrick David Foley and Ellen Powers Foley, Sister Mary Declan entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 29, 1936 and celebrated her perpetual Profession of Vows on August 24, 1942. Sister was 99 years of age and had been in Religious Life for 78 years. Sister Declan graduated from Diocesan Sisters College with a Bachelor of Art Degree in English and History. She also received an Associate Business Degree from Amhurst College, a Masters Degree in French from Assumption College and furthered her studies in French at the Institut Catholique, Paris, France and Université de Tours, Tours, France. Sister Declan taught at several schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford and in the Diocese of Norwich. She taught at St. Michael's High School in Ridge, MD and then taught French at Diocesan Sisters College. Sister also taught French for nine years at St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol. Sister decided to become a missionary in Sweden where she lived for 16 years. She learned Swedish and became a Parish Assistant and teacher at St. Paul Parish in Gävle, Sweden, then held the same position at St. Olaf's Parish, Sundsvall, Sweden. This was followed by a Co-Founder position of St. Joseph's Ecumenical Center in Vikings Hill, Sweden. On her return to West Hartford, CT, Sister volunteered for the next six years at The Gathering Place in Hartford, where people met for lunch and prayer. On her retirement, a Sister Declan Intern Scholarship program was created to give gifts of $500 to a student intern who wished to attend college. While there, Sister Declan met a number of Women Husky Basketball players whom she dearly loved. Sister's great passion was this Husky Basketball team, which she avidly followed and sometimes even attended games in Storrs or in Hartford. Sister Declan will be remembered for her gentleness and kindness. As expressed by those at The Gathering Place at her retirement, "Sister has the wonderful gift of encouragement, along with her deep faith - her abiding gift to us. In our moments of deepest doubt, she has been there for us - praying, reaching out, being gently and wondrously present." Those words truly define Sister Declan as experienced by her Community throughout the years. On her retirement, Sister Declan spent time helping in the Provincial Office. Her presence there was very much appreciated and enjoyed. Finally, she had to completely retire to the Infirmary, but her sweetness and gentleness still shone in her demeanor and smile for each of her Sisters. One of Sister Declan's great joys was visiting her family, especially her sister Rita and her nieces and nephews. Every generation of her family was very dear to her, and on her return from family visits, she showed such joy at having had the opportunity to spend time with them. Sister Mary Declan was predeceased by her brothers, John and Declan, and her sister, Rita Carroll. Sister is survived by her Sisters in Community, especially her Goddaughter, Sister Jeanne Hope, CSJ, and by her nieces, Kathleen Wilcox, Mary Favingar, Caroline Carlson, Eileen Albrycht, Ellen Weaver and Maureen Simpson, and her nephews, Declan, William and Joseph Carroll. Relatives and friends may call at the Convent of Mary Immaculate in West Hartford, CT on Saturday, October 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Chapel. Interment will be in the Sisters of St. Joseph Cemetery immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 27 Park Road, West Hartford, CT 06119. Fisette-Batzner Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Avenue, Newington has care of the arrangements.