A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary Quinn, D.C., was celebrated January 8, 2019, at the Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind.; burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery, Evansville. Sister Mary died December 30, 2018, at St. Vincent Hospital, Evansville, while on mission at Seton Residence in Evansville. Sister was 83 years of age and 65 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born December 23, 1935, in Chicago, Ill., Sister Mary (baptized Mary Elizabeth) was one of ten children born to Vincent Michael and Margaret (Harrison) Quinn. Sister graduated from St. Patrick High School, Chicago, in 1953. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics (with minors in Psychology, Social Studies and Elementary Education) from Marillac College, St. Louis, Mo., in 1961; and her Master of Arts Degree in Human Development from Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich., in 1974.
Sister Mary entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis from Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Chicago, in September 1953. Following initial formation, Sister taught at St. Mary Home, Mobile, Ala., (1955 to 1957); Our Lady of Talpa, Los Angeles, Cal., (1957 t0 1959); and St. Vincent High School, Perryville, Mo., (1959 to 1961). She then served as House Mother at Maryvale, Los Angeles, (1961 to 1964); and St. Mary Home, Mobile, (1964 to 1971). Sister Mary’s next ministries include Group Home Coordinator at St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Center, Farmington Hills, Mich., (1971 to 1975); Social Worker, Cathedral Place, Mobile, (1975 to 1981; during this time Sister Mary served as the Local Community Superior at St. Mary Home in Mobile); Social Services at St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Center, Farmington Hills, (1981 to 1986); Patient Representative, Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, Southfield, Mich., (1986 to 1988); Daughter of Charity Liaison for St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital, Chicago, Ill., (1988 to 2001); and Coordinator of Volunteers, Marillac Social Center, Chicago, (2001 to 2005). In 2005, Sister Mary was missioned to St. Vincent Residence in Evansville. She served there until 2009 when she was missioned to Seton Residence where she served as Assistant and in the Ministry of Prayer.
Sister Mary was one of four members of her family who followed the call of St. Vincent to serve the poor as members of the Vincentian Family. Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, William; her sisters, Ann Quinn and Sister Margaret Quinn, D.C., (formerly of the Province of St. Louise who died in May 2017). She is survived by her brothers Vincent Quinn, James Quinn, Reverend Bernard Quinn, C.M., (Director of the Daughters’ Province of Los Altos Hills); her sisters Pauline Brewer; Joan Scully; and Sister Katie Quinn, D.C., (member of Daughters’ Province of Los Altos Hills); many friends, and her Sisters in Community.