Sister Eileen O’Dea, ‘North Star’ of Notre Dame of Maryland University, dies at 92 November 12, 2026By Kurt Jensen Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Sister Eileen O’Dea, a School Sister of Notre Dame who became known as the “North Star” of what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University after decades in the Baltimore college’s administration, died Nov. 8. She was 92. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in August 1952, made her first profession of vows in Baltimore in July 1955 and her final profession in July 1961. In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Sister Eileen taught at St. Paul School in Ellicott City from 1955 to 1961. She was vice president for planning at Notre Dame of Maryland University from 1985 to 2002 and vice president for mission at the same college from 2003 to 2015 and served as assistant to the president from 2015 to 2021. She also held assignments in New York and Connecticut. When Sister Elieen was honored in 2017 for her service to the university, President Marylou Yam said, “Sister Eileen has long served as Notre Dame’s ‘North Star’ providing clarity and focus and ensuring fidelity to our mission and core values.” School Sister of Notre Dame Sharon Slear, special project assistant to the university president, told the Catholic Review that Sister Eileen, a personal friend, “was devoted to NDMU and its mission to transform the world through education. She worked hard to communicate that mission to all new university faculty and staff members and to all around her.” Additionally, “She was forward-thinking and this was reflected in her excellent work as a long- and short-term planner. Sister Eileen was a patient and thorough researcher and became a trusted adviser to three NDMU presidents.” School Sister of Notre Dame Patricia McLaughlin, coordinator of mission integration at the university, recalled, “Sister Eileen was passionate about making sure every new employee at Notre Dame – from the president to the groundskeeper – was fully formed in the spirit and mission of the university. No excuse for missing an orientation session was a good excuse! “New employees quickly learned that Sister Eileen didn’t talk the mission, she lived it. She sowed the seeds of community and service that thrive on campus today.” Sister Eileen held a bachelor’s degree in history from Notre Dame of Maryland University and a master’s degree in history from St. John’s University in New York. A viewing, wake service and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Chapel at Stella Maris in Timonium on Nov. 20. The viewing is at 9:30 a.m., wake service at 10:15 a.m., and Mass at 11 a.m.. Burial will follow at Notre Dame of Maryland Cemetery in Baltimore. Read more obituaries Deacon Anthony ‘Tony’ Grillo, longtime Our Lady of the Fields deacon, dies at 90 Sister Marionette Coll dies at 104 Sister Michael Kathleen Deane, former longtime Rosedale principal, dies Sister John Francis Schilling, St. Frances Academy’s biggest fan and transformative leader, dies at 81 Sister Mary Katharine Brent dies at 106 Mike Ditka dies at 86: A life of football, fire, and Catholic faith Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media Print
Sister John Francis Schilling, St. Frances Academy’s biggest fan and transformative leader, dies at 81
