September 16, 2026

OBITUARY: Sister Constance Cawley, SSJ

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD — Sister Constance Cawley (Dorothy Raymond), beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Baystate Medical Center on Sept. 12. Born on Oct. 21, 1944, Sister Cawley was a native of Newport, R.I., the daughter of Raymond and Dorothy (Miller) Cawley.

Sister Constance entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Joseph Parish in Newport in 1963. She was graduated from St. Catherine Academy, Newport. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee and a master’s in education from St. Joseph College, West Hartford, Conn. She earned certification in administration from American International College, Springfield.

Sister Constance taught at Sacred Heart School in Gardner, Mass., and St. Patrick School in Chicopee. She later served as principal of St. Patrick School and then Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School in Springfield.  She also served as pastoral minister at St. Patrick Parish in Chicopee and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield.  

In addition to her sisters in community she leaves her siblings, Margaret Meyer, Patrick Cawley, Catherine Andrews, Mary Norbury, and John Cawley. Sister Cawley was predeceased by her sisters, Rosemary Marvel, Patricia Souza and Margaret Boyle and her brother Raymond “Joe” Cawley, Jr.

All services for Sister Constance will take place on Friday, Sept. 18 with a wake at 9 a.m., prayer service at 9:30 a.m. and Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut St., Springfield. 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.