April 16, 2024

OBITUARY: Sister Mary Behan, SSJ

REGIONAL

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Sister of St. Joseph Mary Behan, (formerly Sister Margaret Therese), 87, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Framingham, Mass., on April 9, 2024. Born in Newport, R.I., she was the daughter of George P. and Gwendolyn M. (Pike) Behan.

She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Joseph Parish, Newport, R.I. in 1951. She graduated from St. Catherine Academy, Newport. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, a master of arts degree in English from Villanova University, and a master’s degree in religious education from Seattle University.

She worked in education for 14 years in the Dioceses of Springfield and Worcester, Mass., and Providence, R.I. She established the adult religious education department at the Diocese of Springfield Religious Education Office and was a staff member at the Spirituality Center in Bloomfield, Conn. She served as family life minister in St. Jude Parish, Lincoln, R.I., and pastoral minister at St. Teresa of Avila and St. Barnabas parishes, also in R.I. For the last 20 years of her ministry, she directed retreats at Mercy Center, Madison, R.I., Our Lady of Peace, Narragansett, R.I. as well as Genesis Spiritual Life Center, Westfield, and Miramar Retreat Center in Massachusetts. She also served the congregation as a member of the Leadership Team and a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Federation Formation Team.

In addition to her sisters in community, she leaves her sister, Julianne Kelly and her husband, James, two nieces and a nephew, and two grandnieces and three grandnephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Father George P. Behan.

All services will take place in Blessed Sacrament Church, Holyoke, Monday, April 22. She will be waked at 9 a.m., with a prayer service at 9:30. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery, Holyoke.

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