July 22, 1950 – March 20, 2022
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Mary Kathleen Dowling, CSJ, who passed away on March 20, 2022, at St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, Missouri. She was 71 years of age.
Sister Mary Kathleen was born on July 22, 1950 in Des Moines, Iowa, to parents Joseph Patrick and Sadie (Klein) Dowling. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1972 and was received into the novitiate in 1973. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Avila College in 1972 and a master’s as a reading specialist from Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, in 1983.
Sister Mary Kathleen ministered in education since her reception into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. She began teaching at St. Francis de Sales Grade School in Denver, Colorado in 1972. The following two years she was a student in St. Louis at the St. Joseph Novitiate. From February to July 1975, she taught at Holy Name Grade School in St. Louis. Moving to Marquette, Michigan in 1975, she taught at St. Michael Grade School until 1980. Sister Mary Kathleen taught the next four years at Bishop Baraga Central Grade School.
Moving to Chicago, Illinois, in 1984, Sister Mary Kathleen taught one year at Nativity of Our Lord Grade School. She then continued teaching at St. Fridelis Grade School (1985-1990), St. Philomena Grade School (1990-2005), and St. Helen Grade School (2005-2021). Sister Mary Kathleen retired in 2021 and moved to St. Louis in January 2022.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899 or you can donate online.