Sister Mary Ellen Kilday

May 20, 2008 10:42 pm

— Sister Mary Ellen Kilday, 95, died at 9:10 a.m., Saturday, May 17, 2008, in Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She was born in Sterling, Ill., on Feb. 14, 1913, to John Henry and Mary Ellen Bogue Kilday, and was baptized Margaret Eileen.
Sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence on Feb. 14, 1932, professed first vows Aug. 15, 1934, and final vows Aug. 15, 1940. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, and master’s degrees from the University of Notre Dame and Indiana State University. In her 76 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 39 years, in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Florida and Washington, DC. She taught at St. Patrick High School in Terre Haute from 1949 to 1951, and at Schulte High School in Terre Haute from 1961 to 1968. Beginning in 1974, she was an educational consultant with Diener and Associates in Raleigh, N.C., and also served four years as president of the Foundation for Educational Development, also in Raleigh. Retiring in 1991, she continued to do some consulting and also gave parish service in Anniston, Ala. In 1997, she returned to the Motherhouse where she served on the transportation staff. After 1999, Sister, gave herself totally to the ministry of prayer.
Sister is survived by nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by five brothers, Leo, Charles, James, Royce and Gerald Kilday; and two sisters, Isabel Fabing and Sister Margaret Eileen Kilday, SP.
The wake is Thursday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception with the wake service at 4:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Donald Buchanon presiding. Burial is in the Cemetery of the Sisters of Providence. Callahan-DeBaun Funeral Home assisted with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN. 47876.