January 22, 2021

OBITUARY: Sister Eleanor Dooley, SSJ

REGIONAL

HOLYOKE — Sister of St. Joseph Eleanor Dooley (formerly Sister Maria Assumpta), 92, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died at Mary’s Meadow in Holyoke on Jan. 21. A native of Somerville, Mass., she was the daughter of Richard A. and Mary A. (O’Neill) Dooley.

She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Belmont, Mass., in 1950. She graduated from St. Stephen High School in Worcester, Mass., and earned a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee. She earned a master of arts degree from Assumption College in Worcester; a doctoral degree in French from the Sorbonne, Paris, France; a master of applied science degree in applied theology from the University of San Francisco; and a master of arts degree in theological studies from Harvard University.

She taught in the Springfield Diocese at Cathedral High School in Springfield and St. Michael High School in Northampton, then taught for 11 years at St. Mary Central Catholic High School in Milford, Mass. She taught Latin, French, and religious studies at Elms College for more than 36 years. For many summers, she taught theological French at Harvard Divinity School and taught the graduate seminar in spirituality at the Jesuit University of San Francisco.

She spent three years in spiritual ministry in India and was a visiting professor of World Religions at Fudan University in Shanghai. She was a member of her community’s leadership team for eight years and taught spirituality and deacon formation for the Diocese of Springfield.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Frank and Richard; and her sister, Sister of St. Joseph Mary Dooley. In addition to her sisters in community, she leaves to cherish her memory several generations of loving nieces and nephews, many dear friends, and scores of grateful students.

Services for Sister Dooley will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 26. Burial will be at 9 a.m.at Mont Marie Cemetery in Holyoke. A Memorial Mass will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Holyoke, with COVID protocols observed.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.