Sister Kathleen Gibney SUSC

Sister Kathleen Gibney (Sr. John Alicia) SUSC, died on November 27 at the age of 89. Born in Fall River, she was the daughter of the late John and Alice (Cote) Gibney Shea. Her stepfather Fred Shea, and her sister Patricia (Gibney) MacLeod and brother John Gibney predeceased her. In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, cousins, several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews survive Sr. Kathleen.

Sister Kathleen graduated from the former Sacred Hearts Academy and entered the Holy Union Sisters August 15, 1944. She pronounced her final vows on August 22, 1952. Sr. Kathleen received a B.S. in Education from Providence Catholic Teachers College, and an M.A. in Speech and Drama from Catholic University. She also received an M.A. in Counseling and an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Rollins College and an Advanced Certificate from the National Center for Campus Ministry in Cambridge, MA.

Sister Kathleen taught eighth grade in schools staffed by Holy Union Sisters in Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. She was principal and superior at St. Francis de Sales School, New York City. She taught at the Holy Union Preparatory School and served as director of postulants for the Holy Union Sisters in Fall River. She taught English and drama at the former Sacred Hearts Academy, Fall River.

In the 1970’s Sister Kathleen became Director of Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Orlando. She later moved to Rollins College in Winter Park where she held several academic positions. Upon retiring, she returned to Fall River and coordinated the Workplace Literacy Program at Bristol Community College. Her last ministry was as Director of the Academic Resource Center at Stonehill College. She was a faithful volunteer at the Sacred Heart Parish Soup Kitchen.

All funeral services will be held at Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, MA on December 3. The wake will be at 9 a.m. followed by a prayer vigil at 9:45. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the chapel of St. Margaret Mary at 10:30. Burial will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery, Fall River, MA. All funeral arrangements are by Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home, Fall River.

Donations in Sr. Kathleen’s memory may be made to HOLY UNION SISTERS Mission Advancement Office, P.O. BOX 410, MILTON, MA 02186.