Sister Eileen Donoghue

Sister Eileen (Eileen Mary) Donoghue, age 72, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on November 14, 2021.  She was born on February 11, 1949 in Washington, D. C., the oldest child of Patricia A. (Whelan) and Daniel J. Donoghue. Before entering the Community, Sister Eileen was a member of St. Jerome Parish in Hyattsville, Maryland. She graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland in 1967. She entered the Daughters of Charity on March 30, 1968. She earned both her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (1972) and Master of Science Degree in Nursing with a focus on Medical Surgical and Administration (1982) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C.

Following initial formation, Sister Eileen was missioned to St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, West Virginia (1970) to serve as an elementary teacher aide and then as an elementary teacher at Portsmouth Catholic Elementary School in Portsmouth, Virginia (1970-1971). She then was missioned to Providence Hospital in Washington, D. C. (1971-1974) to finish her degree and serve as a Registered Nurse. From 1974 to 1980, Sister Eileen served at Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, Maryland as a Nurse Manager. While assigned at Sacred Heart Hospital, Sister Eileen volunteered to serve for four months in a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand in 1980. While studying for her graduate degree and serving as a staff nurse, Sister Eileen returned to Providence Hospital (1980-1982), later becoming Director of Medical/Surgical Nursing (1982-1985). She served as Vice President of Nursing Services at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland (1985-1988) and at Sacred Heart Hospital (1988-1990). During 1990, Sister Eileen served as a Registered Nurse at St. Ann’s Infant Home in Hyattsville. Her next mission was in Jacksonville, Florida serving as Coordinator of Vincentian Program (1991-1994) and as Director of Pastoral Care (1994-1998) at both St. Vincent’s Medical Center and St. Catherine Labouré Manor. After a time of rest and recuperation at St. Joseph Provincial House in Emmitsburg, Sister Eileen served there as Sacristan. In 2001, Sister Eileen returned to Sacred Heart Hospital and served in Pastoral Care until 2005. Sister Eileen had a great passion for caring for the sick both as a nurse and while serving in Pastoral Care. In 2005 due to declining health, she was missioned to Villa St. Michael for the Ministry of Prayer, a ministry she held until her death.

Sister Eileen was preceded in death by her parents and brother, John. She is survived by her siblings: Ann Combs, Daniel and William Donoghue, Rose Olsen, Clare O’Rourke, and Mary Pat Donoghue, many nieces and nephews, and her Sisters in Community.

A wake service will be held on Wednesday, November 17 in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg at 7:00 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 18 in the Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg. Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Eileen’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.