Mother Aurelia A'Hearn general superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Erie diocese for 25 years, died Tuesday evening at the Villa Maria Convent after an extended illness. Born Kathryn A'Hearn in Lyons, Colo., daughter of the late Thomas and Ellen A'Hearn, she moved east with her family and settled in Greenville, Pa., Where she attended Saint Michael's Grade and High schools.
After graduation and before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph she worked as a secretary and participated in youth activities at St. Michael's.
Mother Aurelia entered the Erie community February 14, 1923. Shortly after taking her final vows, she was appointed director of novices, a position she held until election as general superior in 1942.
A Latin major, she received her bachelor's degree from Canisius in Buffalo and her master's from St. Bonaventure University. Her teaching assignments included a short term at St. Leo's High in Ridgeway and several years at the Villa Maria Academy.
While general superior of the St. Joseph Congregation, Mother worked closely with both the late Archbishop John Mark Gannon and Archbishop John F. Whealon, who now heads the Hartford, Conn., Diocese. During that time she directed building programs, expanding St. Vincent's Hospital, Erie and Spencer Hospital in Meadville, building St. Mary's Geriatric Hospital and the new Villa Maria Academy and College, also approving plans for several parish convents.
In diocesan education, she extended the commitments of her teaching sisters, opening St. Paul's School, Our Lady of Peace, Our Lady's Christian, preparing sisters to staff diocesan high schools, staffing catechetical centers.
During her time in office, the Sisters moved into diocesan social service work. Mother also supervised the renovation of a wing of Villa Maria Convent to become an infirmary for the sisters needing nursing care.
In 1967 she notified Bishop Whealon of her desire to retire as general superior. From 1967 to June 1973 she was again at Villa Maria Academy in the Latin Dept.
For three years she also directed the education plans for the sisters.
She is survived by a sister in the congregation, Sr. Ellen Francis.
Erie Times News Obituary, September 4, 1974
After graduation and before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph she worked as a secretary and participated in youth activities at St. Michael's.
Mother Aurelia entered the Erie community February 14, 1923. Shortly after taking her final vows, she was appointed director of novices, a position she held until election as general superior in 1942.
A Latin major, she received her bachelor's degree from Canisius in Buffalo and her master's from St. Bonaventure University. Her teaching assignments included a short term at St. Leo's High in Ridgeway and several years at the Villa Maria Academy.
While general superior of the St. Joseph Congregation, Mother worked closely with both the late Archbishop John Mark Gannon and Archbishop John F. Whealon, who now heads the Hartford, Conn., Diocese. During that time she directed building programs, expanding St. Vincent's Hospital, Erie and Spencer Hospital in Meadville, building St. Mary's Geriatric Hospital and the new Villa Maria Academy and College, also approving plans for several parish convents.
In diocesan education, she extended the commitments of her teaching sisters, opening St. Paul's School, Our Lady of Peace, Our Lady's Christian, preparing sisters to staff diocesan high schools, staffing catechetical centers.
During her time in office, the Sisters moved into diocesan social service work. Mother also supervised the renovation of a wing of Villa Maria Convent to become an infirmary for the sisters needing nursing care.
In 1967 she notified Bishop Whealon of her desire to retire as general superior. From 1967 to June 1973 she was again at Villa Maria Academy in the Latin Dept.
For three years she also directed the education plans for the sisters.
She is survived by a sister in the congregation, Sr. Ellen Francis.
Erie Times News Obituary, September 4, 1974
Mother Aurelia A'Hearn general superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Erie diocese for 25 years, died Tuesday evening at the Villa Maria Convent after an extended illness. Born Kathryn A'Hearn in Lyons, Colo., daughter of the late Thomas and Ellen A'Hearn, she moved east with her family and settled in Greenville, Pa., Where she attended Saint Michael's Grade and High schools.
After graduation and before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph she worked as a secretary and participated in youth activities at St. Michael's.
Mother Aurelia entered the Erie community February 14, 1923. Shortly after taking her final vows, she was appointed director of novices, a position she held until election as general superior in 1942.
A Latin major, she received her bachelor's degree from Canisius in Buffalo and her master's from St. Bonaventure University. Her teaching assignments included a short term at St. Leo's High in Ridgeway and several years at the Villa Maria Academy.
While general superior of the St. Joseph Congregation, Mother worked closely with both the late Archbishop John Mark Gannon and Archbishop John F. Whealon, who now heads the Hartford, Conn., Diocese. During that time she directed building programs, expanding St. Vincent's Hospital, Erie and Spencer Hospital in Meadville, building St. Mary's Geriatric Hospital and the new Villa Maria Academy and College, also approving plans for several parish convents.
In diocesan education, she extended the commitments of her teaching sisters, opening St. Paul's School, Our Lady of Peace, Our Lady's Christian, preparing sisters to staff diocesan high schools, staffing catechetical centers.
During her time in office, the Sisters moved into diocesan social service work. Mother also supervised the renovation of a wing of Villa Maria Convent to become an infirmary for the sisters needing nursing care.
In 1967 she notified Bishop Whealon of her desire to retire as general superior. From 1967 to June 1973 she was again at Villa Maria Academy in the Latin Dept.
For three years she also directed the education plans for the sisters.
She is survived by a sister in the congregation, Sr. Ellen Francis.
Erie Times News Obituary, September 4, 1974
After graduation and before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph she worked as a secretary and participated in youth activities at St. Michael's.
Mother Aurelia entered the Erie community February 14, 1923. Shortly after taking her final vows, she was appointed director of novices, a position she held until election as general superior in 1942.
A Latin major, she received her bachelor's degree from Canisius in Buffalo and her master's from St. Bonaventure University. Her teaching assignments included a short term at St. Leo's High in Ridgeway and several years at the Villa Maria Academy.
While general superior of the St. Joseph Congregation, Mother worked closely with both the late Archbishop John Mark Gannon and Archbishop John F. Whealon, who now heads the Hartford, Conn., Diocese. During that time she directed building programs, expanding St. Vincent's Hospital, Erie and Spencer Hospital in Meadville, building St. Mary's Geriatric Hospital and the new Villa Maria Academy and College, also approving plans for several parish convents.
In diocesan education, she extended the commitments of her teaching sisters, opening St. Paul's School, Our Lady of Peace, Our Lady's Christian, preparing sisters to staff diocesan high schools, staffing catechetical centers.
During her time in office, the Sisters moved into diocesan social service work. Mother also supervised the renovation of a wing of Villa Maria Convent to become an infirmary for the sisters needing nursing care.
In 1967 she notified Bishop Whealon of her desire to retire as general superior. From 1967 to June 1973 she was again at Villa Maria Academy in the Latin Dept.
For three years she also directed the education plans for the sisters.
She is survived by a sister in the congregation, Sr. Ellen Francis.
Erie Times News Obituary, September 4, 1974
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