Sr. Irene Mahoney, 1921-2015

Sister Irene Mahoney whose religious name was Denis, died peacefully at Andrus on Hudson on May 9, 2015. She was 94 years old.

Irene entered the Order of St. Ursula in 1942 and made her profession of vows in 1945. From 1945-1946 she taught at Blessed Sacrament School in New Rochelle. An outstanding teacher at the College of New Rochelle, 1946-1959, 1962-1980, she taught students a love of literature and a love of writing. Writing was a deeply satisfying vocation for her, and she produced biographies, plays, essays and fiction.

She taught at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del., from 1959-1962 and Wen Tzao College in Taiwan from 1980 to 1982. Since 1983 she was a free-lance writer. She was part of other writers doing research and writing at the New York Public Library. She was provincial archivist for the community of St. Teresa’s in New Rochelle. At all times she was a woman with a talent for making good lasting friends wherever she lived and served.

Irene obtained her Bachelor’s degree at the College of New Rochelle in 1941. She earned a Master’s degree from Fordham University in 1948 and a PhD from The Catholic University of America. She was in residence at Milay Artists’ Colony in 1976. In 1978 she was at Hollins College in Virginia.

Her volunteer activities included Literary Volunteers of America. At the Ursuline Center in Montana she established summer programs focusing on the Ursuline missions and the culture of the native Indians. She was active in Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library and in dramatic programs for Call to Action.

Irene was born in Brooklyn, NY on May 5, 1921 to the late Frank and Mary (O’Rourke) Mahoney.

A Funeral Mass was offered May 11 in the Province Center Chapel. Burial was Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, New Rochelle.