Sister Catherine Browne

Sister Catherine Browne, RSHM, died peacefully on August 12, 2023, at Marymount Convent.  Sister Catherine was 96 years old and had been a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 77 years.

Born Patricia Browne on February 20, 1927, in Dublin, Ireland, to Richard and Catherine Alwright Browne, she was the fourth of 10 siblings.

She entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary at the RSHM Novitiate in Ferrybank, Ireland, on July 9, 1943, assigned to the United States, and on April 16, 1949, received her permanent visa as a missionary and left for New York. She made final vows on September 12, 1950, in Tarrytown, NY. Her first years of ministry in the United States were in Tarrytown, as a member of the support staff at Marymount College (1946-1953) and Marymount Secondary School (1953-1960).

In 1960, Mother Rita Rowley, who had been the Marymount Community Superior and Provincial Superior, was elected as General Superior of the RSHM. Sr. Catherine was asked to accompany her to Rome. Shortly after arriving in Europe, Mother Rita was diagnosed with cancer. Sr. Catherine remained with Mother Rita until she died in 1963.

After Mother Rita’s death, Sr. Catherine returned to Marymount College where she became the plant manager, and remained in that position until 1982.

She lived at Istituto Marymount, Rome, Italy, as plant manager for one year and then as a participant in a renewal program at Regina Mundi (1982-1984). She was plant manager at Marymount International School Rome (1984-1986) and at Marymount University, Arlington, VA (1986-1997).

Sister Catherine was asked to go to England where she was the boarding moderator at Marymount International School London, (1997-1998). She then went to France to be part of the staff of Marymount International School Paris (1998-2000). She returned to the United States and joined the staff at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY (2000-2002).

For 16 years, Sister Catherine worked to make Cormaria Retreat House, Sag Harbor, NY a “home away from home” for retreatants, other guests, and staff (2002-2018).

She retired to Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY in 2018 and was a member of the Convent community when she died.

Sister Catherine is survived by one brother, Vincent, and by many nephews and nieces in Ireland and by the members of her RSHM family.

Services at Marymount Convent, 32 Warren Avenue, Tarrytown, NY. Visiting Thursday, August 17, 4:00 – 7:00 pm with Vigil Service 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, August 18, 10:30 am. Burial Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains.

We invite you to join us for the live-streamed Vigil Service and Mass on our website (www.rshm-east.org), where it will be archived.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her name may be made to Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, NY, 10591.