Sister Kathleen Healy PBVM

1926 - 2018

Sister Kathleen Healy, PBVM, (religious name Sister Mary Daniel) entered eternal life on April 21, 2018 at the Presentation Motherhouse in San Francisco. A native of San Francisco, CA, Sister Kathleen was born in 1926 to William and Hanna Healy who predeceased her. Her devoted sisters, Sister Nancy Healy, PBVM, Sister Doreen Healy, PBVM, Sister Maryann Healy, PBVM and Mrs. Honora Lowe predeceased her as well. This was a loving Irish family who surrounded and nurtured her with their Catholic faith and love for justice which supported her as a Sister of the Presentation for seventy-five (75) years. She now leaves her beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins along with their families, as well as her loving Presentation Sisters and Associates.


To prepare her for the ministries she was passionate about, she earned her BA in 1956 and an MA in 1963, both in Education through USF, an MA in Theology in 1974 through Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, and a Doctorate in Ministry from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley in 1980.


In 1946 Sister Kathleen began twenty-eight (28) years teaching in Catholic schools in San Francisco (St. Anne, 1946-47; St. Agnes 1947-49, 1954-55, 1962-68; St. Teresa 1957-58, 68-74); in San Jose (St. Christopher 1955-57); in Los Angeles (St. Mary Magdalen 1949-54) and at Bishop Conaty High School 1958-62. In addition she served as principal at Saint Agnes School from 1962-1968 and at Saint Teresa School, from 1968-1974.


Full time parish ministry at St. Teresa Parish, San Francisco was the next call she answered so willingly from 1974-2005. In addition, from 1979-83 she served with Fr. Peter Sammon, Director of Family Life, Archdiocese of San Francisco. During those years she was also involved in the Sanctuary Movement and the Bay Area Organizing Committee. She joined several delegations to El Salvador and Guatemala to support the people of those countries in their struggles for justice.


In 2006 she became a founding member of the staff of The Lantern, a literacy and hospitality center for immigrants in the Mission District of San Francisco.


Following this, in 2007, Sister Kathleen began her ministry with Saint Anthony Foundation providing social services in the Dining Room and visiting the poor in residential hotels in the Tenderloin.


A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Teresa Church, 1490 19th St. (19th & Connecticut Streets), San Francisco on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 10:30 am followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma.


Memorial contributions to the Sisters of the Presentation are preferred and may be sent to Sisters of the Presentation, Development Office, 281 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118.