Sister Paula Kelleher (Sr. John David), (4/16/35), beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in the Jewish Healthcare Center, Worcester, Mass. on July 11, 2026. A native of Worcester, Mass., she was the daughter of William and Catherine T. (O’Connor) Kelleher.
Sister entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from Blessed Sacrament Parish, Worcester in 1953. She was graduated from St. Peter High School, Worcester. She earned an A.B. degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee; an M.Ed. from (then) Westfield State College; an M.A. and a C.A.G.S. from American International College, Springfield and C.A.P.S in Theology from Assumption College, Worcester. She also earned a Chaplain Certification from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
Sister Paula taught in Sacred Heart School in Gardner, and Saint Patrick School in Chicopee Falls. She served as Principal of Mary Immaculate School in Holyoke and St. Joseph School, Leicester. She served as Religious Educator at Saint Rock’s parish in Oxford and Our Lady of the Rosary in Spencer and ministered as Pastoral Associate at St. Mary and Holy Rosary Parishes, Spencer. Sister was appointed Vicar for Religious of the Worcester Diocese in 1992 until her retirement in 2014. Sister was co-director of the Office of Healing and Prevention for several years. Sister volunteered at Marillac Manor, the home for unwed mothers maintained by the Diocese and served on the Pro-Life Committee of the Diocese of Worcester.
In addition to her Sisters in Community, Sister is survived by her sister, Kathleen Kelleher, and her nephew Nick, two nieces, Maria and Paula. Sister was predeceased by her sister, Barbara Argento, and brother John Kelleher.
Sister Paula will be waked from Athy Memorial Home, 111 Worcester MA from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM. The Liturgy of Chrisitan burial will take place in Christ the King Church, 1052 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery 260Cambridge Street, Worcester, MA.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.