A funeral Mass for Sister Helen Ryan, CSJ, was celebrated Feb. 7 at Nazareth Living Center in south St. Louis County. Sister Helen died Jan. 30 at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis. She was 86 years old and a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet for 64 years.
Sister Helen, baptized Margaret Mary, was born on Aug. 18, 1936, in St. Louis to parents Vincent Dennis and Helen Maxine (Roehrig) Ryan. She was received into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet on March 19, 1958. She earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary school English from Fontbonne College (now University) in St. Louis in 1962 and master’s degrees from Saint Louis University in secondary school English (1969) and in secondary education administration (1976). She was also certified to teach religious studies after attending Paul VI Institute in St. Louis.
Sister Helen served in education for nearly 50 years. She began teaching elementary education at St. Luke the Evangelist School in St. Louis (1960-62) and St. Francis de Sales School in Denver, Colorado (1962-63).
From 1963 to 2009, she served in secondary education in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. She taught at Valle High School in Ste. Genevieve (1963-66) and St. Anthony High School in St. Louis (1966-75). She served as assistant principal at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florissant (1975-83) and as assistant/associate principal at John F. Kennedy High School in Manchester (1983-95). For the next 14 years, Sister Helen taught religious studies at Chaminade College Preparatory in St. Louis.
Sister Helen retired in 2009 and was a part-time volunteer at St. Joseph’s Academy in the advancement department. She has also taught PSR. She enjoyed reading and following St. Joseph’s Academy and Chaminade athletics. In 2019, she resided at Nazareth Living Center, where she carried out her ministry of prayer and presence.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.
