Obituary for Mother Mary Thomas Sheehan, PBVM
WATERVLIET – Mother Mary Thomas Sheehan, P.B.V.M. passed into eternal life on September 6th 2022 at St. Colman’s Presentation Convent in Watervliet, following a very long illness. She was 86 years of age.
Elizabeth Jane Sheehan, in Religion called Sister Mary Thomas, P.B.V.M., was born in Boston, Mass on July 3, 1936, the youngest of ten children of Thomas Edward and Ann Marie (Williams) Sheehan.
Raised and educated in Boston, Mother Mary Thomas was a graduate of Boston City High School and received her certification in Special Education from Cardinal Stritch College in 1963. She furthered her education at the College of St. Rose in Albany where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She was also certified as a Licensed Master Social Worker.
Mother Mary Thomas entered the Religious Order of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1954 and professed her final vows on May 4, 1960. She served in the capacity of Major Superior of the Order from 2013-2016.
Mother Mary Thomas dedicated her life to the care and education of children and her greatest delight was working with special needs children. She taught elementary school at St. Colman’s Home and in St. Anthony’s School in Albany. In 1962 she taught special education at the Cobb Memorial School in Altamont for several years and from 1968-2013 was the director of the Cobb Memorial School.
In addition to her religious community, Mother Mary Thomas is survived by her siblings; Edward (Thomas Edward) Sheehan, Jr. of Roxbury, Mass, Jean MacKinnon of East Falmouth, Mass; brother-in-law, John (Jack) H. Reid of Bristol NH; sisters-in-law, Mary Sheehan ( late John) and Mary Sheehan (late Leo) both of Roxbury, Mass., as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Ann Marie Sheehan; her siblings and their spouses; Doreen (Edward) Sheehan, Virginia Marie (Timothy) Scott, Barbara Ann (Joseph) Feeley, John Joseph Sheehan, Ann Marie (Jack) MacKinnon, Leo Frederick Sheehan, Kathleen Reid and Rosemary (George) Moulten.
Religious, relatives and friends are invited to visit at St. Colman’s Chapel, 11 Haswell Road, Watervliet, on Saturday from 10 am until 11 am. A private funeral Mass, celebrated by Reverend Donald L. Rutherford, will follow and the Rite of Committal and burial will take place in St. Colman’s Cemetery.
The funeral may be viewed via live stream on the Parker Bros. Memorial Facebook page at 11 am on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Mother Mary Thomas may make a donation to The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Colman’s Convent, 11 Haswell Road, Watervliet, NY 12189.
Elizabeth Jane Sheehan, in Religion called Sister Mary Thomas, P.B.V.M., was born in Boston, Mass on July 3, 1936, the youngest of ten children of Thomas Edward and Ann Marie (Williams) Sheehan.
Raised and educated in Boston, Mother Mary Thomas was a graduate of Boston City High School and received her certification in Special Education from Cardinal Stritch College in 1963. She furthered her education at the College of St. Rose in Albany where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She was also certified as a Licensed Master Social Worker.
Mother Mary Thomas entered the Religious Order of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1954 and professed her final vows on May 4, 1960. She served in the capacity of Major Superior of the Order from 2013-2016.
Mother Mary Thomas dedicated her life to the care and education of children and her greatest delight was working with special needs children. She taught elementary school at St. Colman’s Home and in St. Anthony’s School in Albany. In 1962 she taught special education at the Cobb Memorial School in Altamont for several years and from 1968-2013 was the director of the Cobb Memorial School.
In addition to her religious community, Mother Mary Thomas is survived by her siblings; Edward (Thomas Edward) Sheehan, Jr. of Roxbury, Mass, Jean MacKinnon of East Falmouth, Mass; brother-in-law, John (Jack) H. Reid of Bristol NH; sisters-in-law, Mary Sheehan ( late John) and Mary Sheehan (late Leo) both of Roxbury, Mass., as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Ann Marie Sheehan; her siblings and their spouses; Doreen (Edward) Sheehan, Virginia Marie (Timothy) Scott, Barbara Ann (Joseph) Feeley, John Joseph Sheehan, Ann Marie (Jack) MacKinnon, Leo Frederick Sheehan, Kathleen Reid and Rosemary (George) Moulten.
Religious, relatives and friends are invited to visit at St. Colman’s Chapel, 11 Haswell Road, Watervliet, on Saturday from 10 am until 11 am. A private funeral Mass, celebrated by Reverend Donald L. Rutherford, will follow and the Rite of Committal and burial will take place in St. Colman’s Cemetery.
The funeral may be viewed via live stream on the Parker Bros. Memorial Facebook page at 11 am on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Mother Mary Thomas may make a donation to The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Colman’s Convent, 11 Haswell Road, Watervliet, NY 12189.