Sister Ann Kelly, Osu

From 1956 until 2012, hundreds of students at Ursuline College passed through the philosophy classes of Sister Ann Kelly (or Sister James Therese as she was formerly known).  Other students came to know Sister Ann as Academic Dean or as academic advisor.  A special project of Sister Ann’s was creating an individualized program to assist students in need of academic support.  (This program, named RAISE, is still used at Ursuline College.)  The friendships that Sister Ann began with the women she met as students continued for many of them as alumnae.  After retirement and moving to Regina Health Center in 2018, Sister nurtured these friendships through her faithful letter-writing.  Sister Ann died peacefully at Regina on October 4, 2020.

 Ann Marie Kelly was born on February 9, 1931, to James and Theresa (Murray) Kelly.  She attended Annunciation Elementary School, St. Joseph Academy, and Ursuline College.  Ann taught one year at Ascension School and then entered the Ursuline Community in 1952. As Sister James Therese she professed her final vows in 1958.  After teaching a year at Sacred Heart Academy in East Cleveland, Sister Ann began her 54-year career at Ursuline College.  Along the way she completed her doctoral work in philosophy at Notre Dame University. In 1996 Sister Ann was called to interrupt her ministry at the college to serve four years in Ursuline Congregational Leadership.

Sister Ann had multiple interests in addition to her lifelong service in education.  She wrote poetry—many examples appearing in the Ursuline College literary publication, Inscape.

She completed Enneagram Professional Training; she studied journal writing, bio-ethics, and spiritual direction. Sister Ann was a member of the Companions of Marie of the Incarnation, a faith-sharing group among Ursuline sisters and associates.

Sister Ann is survived by her sister, Margaret MacKanic (Gerald), of Santa Monica, California and preceded in death by her sisters Mary Lou Kraven (Charles),  and Therese Inman (Paul).  Sister is also survived by four nieces, two nephews, and seven great nieces and nephews.

Donations in Sister Ann’s memory can be made to the Ursuline Sisters.

Funeral Service for Sister Ann:

Funeral Mass Thursday, October 8th, 11:00am
St. Francis of Assisi Church
6850 Mayfield Road, Gates Mills
Facial covering and social distancing required.
Interment All Souls Cemetery

Memorial donations may be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland:  www.ursulinesisters.org

Arrangements by DeJohn-Flynn-Mylott