A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary Ann O’Brien, D.C., was held April 5, 2016, at Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind. Burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery in Evansville. Sister Mary Ann died March 28, 2016, at Seton Residence, Evansville. She was 88 years of age and 70 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Piqua, Ohio, on December 7, 1927, Sister Mary Ann (baptized Beatrice Ann) was one of three children born to Harry A. and Florence (Hennessey) O’Brien. Sister graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Washington, D.C., in 1945. She entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in December of 1945.
Sister Mary Ann earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Boston College, Boston, Mass., in 1955; she completed her Master of Science Degree in Nursing Education Administration at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in 1963.
Following initial formation, Sister Mary Ann served as an Elementary Education Teacher at St. John’s School in Baltimore (1947 – 1951). Once she completed her Nursing Degree, Sister served as a Nurse Supervisor at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore (1955 – 1967); Director of Nursing Services at Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield, Mich., (1967 – 1970); Assistant Administrator at Providence Hospital and Medical Center (1970 – 1977; while in Southfield, Sister also served as the Local Community Superior, 1975 – 1977); Assistant Administrator at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Evansville, Ind., (1977 – 1985; while in Evansville, Sister also served as the St. Mary’s Residence Local Community Superior, 1977 – 1984); Vice President of Seton Health Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., (1985 – 1991; while in Milwaukee, Sister also served as the St. Mary’s Hospital Residence Local Community Superior, 1985 – 1991); Executive Director of Seton Home Health Services, Birmingham, Ala., (1991 – 1996; while in Birmingham, Sister served as Local Community Superior at St. Vincent’s Residence, 1995 – 1999); Parish Associate, St. Stephen the Martyr/Catholic Campus Center, Birmingham, (1996 – 1998); Conference Center Director, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Birmingham, Ala., (1998 – 1999); Docent at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, Md., (1999 – 2000 and 2004 – 2005); and Cancer Resource Center Assistant, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Evansville (2000 – 2004; while in Evansville, Sister served as Local Community Superior at Mater Dei Residence, 2000 – 2004). In 2005, Sister Mary Ann joined the Ministry of Prayer at Seton Residence in Evansville where she served until the time of her death.
Sister Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her brother John O’Brien; and her sister Charlotte (Stacy) Byrd. She is survived by many nieces and nephews; her Sisters in Community; and many friends.