Sister Cecilia James Mahoney (Catherine D.), 95, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Baystate Medical Center on January 18, 2017. A native of Worcester, Mass. she was the daughter of James and Catherine O’Shea Mahoney.
Sister entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Peter Parish, Worcester in 1940. She was graduated from St. Peter High School, Worcester. She earned both an A.B. degree and an M.A. from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, Mass.
Sister Cecilia taught in the Diocese of Springfield at Cathedral Grammar, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and St. Matthew, all in Springfield, and St. Joseph High School, Pittsfield. In the Diocese of Worcester she taught at St. Louis, Webster and St. Mary, Southbridge. She also served as Directress of Junior Professed for the Congregation. For ten years she ministered in education in Kenya, East Africa. Upon her return from the missions, she served as librarian at Notre Dame Middle School, Pittsfield. She retired in West Springfield in 1996.
In addition to her Sisters in Community, she is survived by her sisters, Mary McCarthy of Portsmouth, RI, Barbara Murphy of Worcester, MA and Patricia Calhoun of Hollywood, FL and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother James.
All services for Sr. Cecilia James will take place in St. Joseph Chapel at Mont Marie on Saturday, January 21, 2017. She will be waked from 8:30 to 10:00 with a prayer service at 9:30. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.