Sister Mary Ellen Cragan, who died Oct. 3, 2006, at the age of 80, spent most of her 62 years as a Sister of St. Joseph as teacher, principal and pastoral assistant.
She joined the congregation in 1944 from St. Patrick Parish in Corning and earned bachelor’s degrees in education, English and history at Nazareth College.
After teaching at Immaculate Conception School in Rochester and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Brockport, she was appointed principal of St. Jerome School in East Rochester in 1955 and St. Pius Tenth School in Chili in 1965, followed by a one-year principalship at Blessed Sacrament School in Rochester.
Sister Cragan then was elected to a four-year term on the congregation’s Leadership Team after which she was principal of St. Monica School in Rochester for six years and pastoral assistant at St. Stanislaus Parish in Rochester for 10 years. In 1994 she moved to the motherhouse, working as driver and receptionist at the convent infirmary until her retirement in 1999.
She is survived by her brother, Edward Kelly; nephews, William and John Kelly; cousin, Margaret Amati; and her sisters in the congregation. Her funeral liturgy was celebrated on Oct. 6, 2006, in the motherhouse chapel with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 150 French Road, Rochester, NY 14618.
Tags: Religious Orders
