August 26, 2026

A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary Sullivan, an Ursuline sister, was celebrated on Aug. 25 at the Ursuline Province Center in New Rochelle.

Sister Mary, formerly Sister Karen, died August 17, 2026, at Andrus on Hudson Nursing Home.

Sister Mary was born in the Bronx, on July 23, 1940, the oldest child of Katherine Cahill and Patrick Sullivan, both from County Kerry, Ireland.

She professed vows in the Ursuline Community on January 6, 1963.

Sister Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of New Rochelle and a master’s degree in English from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont.

She began her teaching ministry at Blessed Sacrament School in New Rochelle, St. Jerome’s in the Bronx, Notre Dame, and St. Joseph’s Ursuline Academy in Malone.

She went on to serve on the Boards of Trustees of the College of New Rochelle, Academy of Mount St. Ursula, and The Ursuline School. One of her fondest educational ministries was teaching Peace Education at St. John Chrysostom School in the Bronx.

Responding to a new call, Sister Mary pursued certification in Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. She served in chaplaincy and pastoral care positions at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Lincoln Hospital, St. Clare’s Hospital and Calvary Hospital in New York. Recognizing her gifts in pastoral care, Sister Mary was appointed assistant director of Pastoral Care at Calvary Hospital.

Advocacy for justice was an integral part of Sister Mary’s life. She was involved in the Ursuline Roman Union Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation projects, demonstrations at the School of the Americas and the initiation of a Madeleva Reflection Group, which met regularly to reflect on the Christian feminist vision of full humanity for all persons and right relationships among all creatures. As a member of the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility, Sister Mary was invited to be part of the U.S. delegation serving as human rights monitors and observers of Orange Order parades held in Northern Ireland. She was assistant director of Siena House, which provides transitional housing for pregnant women and young mothers. Her concern for immigrants also led her to volunteer at Catholic Social Services in Laredo, Texas.

Within the Ursuline community, Sister Mary served in several leadership positions, including provincial and local superior. Her gifts as a spiritual director were central to her role as director of all stages of Ursuline formation.

Sister Mary will be remembered by her Ursuline sisters, family and friends for her leadership, compassion and vision of a future where all will be part of God’s peaceful kingdom.

She was predeceased by her brothers, John and James. She was survived by her sister, Eileen Barrett; her sister-in-law, Pam Sullivan; and many nieces and nephews.

Donations in Sister Mary’s memory may be made to the Ursuline Sisters Development Office, 1338 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804.