Sister Joan Kerrigan, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for nearly 70 years, died Aug. 22 at Gilchrist Hospice in Towson, at age 87. She spent approximately four decades ministering at the elementary education level, primarily in Maryland, where she was the principal of four schools, and helped found the Notre Dame Education Center in Washington, D.C.
Formerly Sister Marie Eleanor, she was born in Chester, Pa., attended parish schools and graduated from Notre Dame High School in Moylan, Pa., in 1951. A few months later, she entered the congregation, and made her final vows in 1959. Sister Joan earned a bachelor’s degree in education and English from Trinity College in Washington, a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Fordham University, and another master’s degree in education and computer science from Trinity College.
She began her teaching ministry at St. Ursula School in Parkville, 1954-57. From there she went to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Ilchester, 1957-60, and Trinity School in Ellicott City, 1960-62. She served as principal of St. Philip Neri School in Linthicum Heights, 1965-67. Her service in the Archdiocese of Washington including teaching at St. Jerome School in Hyattsville, and then returning as principal, 1970-76. She also served as principal of Little Flower School in Great Mills, 1967-70, and St. Francis Xavier School in Washington, 1979-83. At the high school level, Sister Joan served as assistant principal of Academy of Notre Dame, in Washington, 1985-87.
She also served as director of Educational Ministries for the former Maryland Province, 1976-79, and was a member of its leadership team, 1987-94). Her educational ministries included teacher training at Trinity College, 1982, and at the Egoji Training College in Meru, Kenya, 1983-85, and adult basic education at the Notre Dame Education Center in Washington,which she helped found, 1995-2011.
At the time of her death, she was a member of the SND community at Villa Julie Residence in Stevenson.
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