In section: In Memory

Sister Eileen McConomy

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“My soul is waiting for the Lord…my heart rejoices in Him
and I trust in His Holy Name” (Ps 33:20, 21)

December 9, 2009, Sister Eileen McConomy,
in religion, Sister Helen of Mary,
went home to the Father at the age of 81. 
She had been professed for 61 years.

Eileen was born in Montreal, Quebec into a blended family.
Her father, Thomas James McConomy had 3 children
and her mother Margaret Helene Keleher had 2 children. 
Together they had Eileen and her sister Helene.
Eileen was baptized at Holy Family Parish.

During her elementary school years, she attended Holy Family and St. Brendan’s Schools. She then continued her high school education as a boarder at Hochelaga Convent.  After graduation, she worked for fifteen months, in Old Montreal, as an income tax assessor. In the winter of 1946, she entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in Montreal.

During her 28 year career in education, she taught in both the private and public sectors: St. Lambert Convent in the private sector as well as in the following schools in the public sector: St. Aloysius and Holy Names High in Montreal and Our Lady Queen of the World in Laflèche on the South Shore. 

While teaching, she also followed many courses. She specialized in school libraries. After she retired from teaching in the 1960’s, the Montreal Catholic School Commission hired her to set up libraries in 63 schools. 

Sister Eileen later moved to Valleyfield and worked in the SNJM infirmary for five years, seeing to the non-medical needs of the Sisters.  She visited them and enjoyed listening to their stories.

In 1991, she moved to the Congregational House, in Longueuil, to work on written translation, from French to English, at the General Chapter.  The following was written by the current Congregational Leadership Team:

“With quiet reserve and a gentle presence, this petite woman entered her office and sat before her computer to welcome the task for the day – translating documents, notices or articles from French to English. For seventeen years Sister Eileen McConomy has served several Congregational Leadership teams. Ours, too, has received her loving service.
Recent health issues have resulted in a change of residence for Sr. Eileen – a move to Maison Jésus-Marie and on to new challenges in her life.

We wish to express our deep gratitude to Eileen for her years of faithful ministry to the General Administration. Her dedication, diligence and gentle spirit will long be remembered and appreciated. Thank you, Eileen!”
CLT in Brief  Vol. 3, No. 3 – February 2009  Lorraine St- Hilaire, Jocelyne Latreille, Dolore Wehle, and Margaret Kennedy   

Sister Eileen also served for several of those years as superior of her local community in Longueuil until 2008. 

Sister Eileen will always be remembered as a gracious and caring person. She was an avid reader, a good listener, a storyteller and possessed a wonderful sense of humour.  She always warmly welcomed all her visitors.  She was a woman filled with gratitude. 

One of her favourite prayers was “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in thee.”  She once said that her sojourn in the infirmary gave her a lot of time to prepare for finally meeting her Lord. 

She leaves behind her sister Helene McConomy, her cousin, many nieces and nephews and some very close SNJM friends.  Sister Eileen will be greatly missed!

 

Other articles in the section In Memory
Sister Noëlla Gagnon
Sister Jeannine Cornellier
Sister Claire Giroux
Sister Gisèle Marcil
Sister Gisèle Lalande
Sister Mary Ellen Collins
Sister Denise Rivet
Sister Madeleine Philie
Sister Monique Robitaille
Sister Claire Montcalm