Sister Mary (Mary Helena) Sheehan, age 86, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on March 22, 2026. She was born on April 29, 1939, in Somerville, Massachusetts to Ellen (McAuliffe) and John Sheehan. She graduated from Girls Catholic High School in Malden, Massachusetts in 1956. On April 2, 1957, Sister Mary entered the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland from St. Polycarp Parish in Somerville. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics with a minor in Education from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg in 1971, and her Master of Science in Institutional Administration from University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana in 1976.
Following initial formation, Sister Mary was missioned to serve as an Elementary and Junior High teacher at St. James School in Johnson City, New York and at St. Catherine Labouré School in Wheaton, Maryland, followed by six years as Principal. In 1977, Sister Mary was sent to Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Gloverville, South Carolina to serve in parish ministry. Sister Mary then served as Assistant Principal at St. Dominic School in Baltimore, Maryland until 1982.
After a residency in Hospital Administration at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, Sister Mary served in Administration at St. Vincent’s Medical Center and St. Catherine Labouré Manor, both in Jacksonville, Florida. Sister then served as Administrator of Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, 1997 to 2000. After a few short-term missions, Sister Mary returned to Gloverville to serve at Our Lady of the Valley Center as Director of Religious Education and Education Coordinator from 2002 to 2013. She then served as support staff at Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg. In 2015, Sister Mary was missioned to Villa St. Michael for the Ministry of Prayer, a ministry she held until her death.
Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Michael (Dr. Florence) and Joseph (Judy) Sheehan. She is survived by her sisters, Martha Thomas (George) and Ellen Card (Dr. Harold); and brothers John “Jack” (Peggy) and David (Suzanne) Sheehan, many nieces, nephews, friends, and her Sisters in Community.
A Wake service was held on Thursday, March 26 in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg and the Mass of Christian Burial took place the following day in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Burial followed in the Sacred Heart Cemetery on the grounds.