March 5, 1925 – March 16, 2022 (age 97)
Newburgh, New York
Sister Mary Carolyn Meehan, OP of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, died on March 16, 2022 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh. She was 97 years of age. The daughter of the late William Joseph and Caroline Smith Meehan, she was born March 5, 1925 in Newburgh, New York.
Sister Mary Carolyn entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh on May 30, 1946, made her First Profession December 23, 1947, and Final Profession August 27, 1951. She earned her BS in Elementary Education from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY.
Sister began her ministry at Saint Rose School in Haddon Heights, NJ where she taught for eleven years from 1947 to 1958. She also taught at the following schools; Academia San Jose School in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico (1958-60), Academia San Jose School in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (1960-61), Immaculata School in Durham, NC (1961-62), Sacred Heart School in Camden, NJ (1962-67), Nativity School in the Bronx (1967-68), Saint Mary School in Poughkeepsie, NY (1968-71), Saint Joseph Elementary School in Toms River, NJ (1971-81), Saint Timothy School in Miami, FL (1981-86). In 1986, Sister became Director of Religious Education at Saint Timothy Parish, a position she held until her retirement in 2008. St. Timothy, in recognition of Sister’s many years of devoted service, named a building in her honor: The Sister Carolyn Learning Center.
Sister was always very conscious of the less fortunate and made an effort to give of herself with both time and treasure supporting organizations that served them.
In addition to her parents, Sister is predeceased by her siblings, Jacqueline Meehan, Rev. Warren E. Meehan, SSJ, Thelma Meehan and William Meehan. Sr. Mary Carolyn is survived by her sister, Eileen; her nieces, Maureen (Kenneth) Smith of New Windsor, Jacqueline Meehan of New Windsor, Kathleen (Carroll) Welt of Rock Tavern. She is also survived by her great nieces, Kelly Smith of Pa., Eileen Welt of South Carolina and great nephews, Paul (Rachel) Welt of Montgomery and Dr. Kenneth Smith of Manhattan and their children.
A celebration of Sister Mary Carolyn’s life will take place on Wednesday March 23, 2022, at the Dominican Center, in the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary, at Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY. The viewing will begin at 9 a.m. followed by a wake service at 10:15 a.m., and the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. followed by the burial in the Dominican Sisters of Hope Cemetery on the grounds of Mount Saint Mary College.
Donations in Sister’s memory can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Hope Development Office, 299 North Highland Ave, Ossining, NY 10562.
