DIOCESAN NEWS
03/13/09
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Three religious women die in March
Sr. Maura McElligott
     SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Sister Maura McElligott, OP, 96, died March 3 at the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse. She joined the Dominican Sisters in 1934.
     Sister McElligott always spoke warmly of her many years of ministry in hospital work. She served in many different geographical areas and was instrumental in the work of racial integration and forming long-term ties with the variety of populations she served.
     She was appointed the first administrator of St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson, Miss., and later became the director of St. Dominic’s School of Nursing. At age 72 she earned her certification in pastoral care and thereafter served for 10 years in that capacity at St. Mary Hospital in Rogers, Ark., before retiring.
     Sister McElligott was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Catherine, Eileen and Joan and brothers James and Andrew. She is survived by her sisters Therese Naughton and Helen Jackson, several nieces and nephews and her Dominican Sisters with whom she lived and ministered for 74 years.
     A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 6 at Sacred Heart Convent with Father Peter Witchousky, OP, presiding. Burial took place at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield.
     To offer condolences visit www.butlerfuneralhomes.com.

Sr. Karen O’Kelly
     SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Sister Karen O’Kelly, OP, 79, died March 6 at the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse. Sister O’Kelly joined the Dominican Sisters in 1948.
     She taught elementary students before becoming principal of St. Joseph School in Bradley, Ill., and Our Lady of Grace School in Chicago. Later she was appointed diocesan director of education in Rockford, Ill. From 1989-93 she served on the Dominican Sisters General Council.
     In 1993 Sister O’Kelly came to the Diocese of Jackson, Miss., and served as assistant superintendent of Catholic schools.
     Since 2003 she served in community support services and as administrative assistant to the director of associates.
     She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Eileen and brother Patrick. She is survived by her sisters Joan McLoughlin and Lillian Cummings, several nieces and nephews and her Dominican Sisters with whom she lived and ministered for 61 years.
     A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 9. Father Peter Witchousky, OP, presiding. Burial took place at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield.
     To offer condolences visit Sister O’Kelly’s online life story.

Sr. Rosamond Beaugez
     ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Sister Mary Rosamond Beaugez, RSM, died March 8 at Catherine’s Residence. She was 77-years-old.
     Sister Beaugez was born in Biloxi, Miss., and entered the Sisters of Mercy community at Webster Groves, Mo., in 1949 and made her final vows on March 16, 1952.
     Her ministry in Mississippi included teaching elementary grades from 1952 to 1979 in Pass Christian, Greenville, Jackson, Vicksburg, and Biloxi. She also taught in Little Rock, Ark.
     She taught at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Biloxi until she retired. She remained in Biloxi doing volunteer work until she became sick and in February she went to St. John Hospital in St. Louis and then became a resident at Catherine’s Residence.
     Sister Beaugez was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Louis Jr., Marita, Myrna Louise and Gerald.
     She is survived by sisters-in-law Marie (Sandoz) of Bay St. Louis, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
     Her Mass of Christian Burial was to be celebrated March 10. Burial was to take place in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo.
     A Memorial Mass for Sister Beaugez will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Parish in D’Iberville in the near future

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