A funeral Mass for Sister Helena Monahan was celebrated Sept. 25 at St. Pius V Church in St. Louis. A Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word for 57 years, she died Sept. 19 in St. Louis. She was 83.
She was born on May 1, 1942, in St. Louis to Helen (O’Mara) and James Lawrence Monahan. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in 1960 and professed first vows in 1963 and perpetual vows in 1968.
Sister Helena earned a bachelor’s in English at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio; a doctorate in English at Saint Louis University; and a doctor of jurisprudence at the University of Houston.
She taught at St. Francis Xavier in Taos, St. Dismas in Florissant and Immaculate Conception in Jefferson City (all in Missouri) as well as Our Lady of the Valley in El Paso, Texas, prior to pursuing graduate degrees. She then served in various capacities at the University of the Incarnate Word, including English professor, assistant to the president, executive vice president, legal counsel and chancellor. She spent a year as an ACE Fellow at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She also served as the province and congregational leader in the congregation. Later, she was the president at Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis, and at the time of her death was a project manager at the Incarnate Word Foundation.
She dedicated her life to the service of the poor, the education of young people, care for the natural world and the dignity of immigrants. She connected people across the world and spread love to all those she met, whose lives were made immeasurably more joyous for having known her.
Sister Helena loved her extended family, who were spoiled by her generosity and willingness to see the best in all of us.
She is survived by her brother, Jim (Monika); nieces and nephews, Andrea (Steve) Wieselman, Jim (Peppler) Monahan, Kris Monahan, Jenny Monahan, Peter (Jenny Song) Monahan, Geralyn (Sam) Murphy, Joe (Lesa) Moran, Patty Moran (Mike Manna); and numerous great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Helen Moran; nephew, Frank Moran; and her parents, James L. and Helen Monahan. Burial was in the cemetery at Incarnate Word Academy.
