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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Sister Brigid O’Connell, RSM
Sister Brigid O’Connell, RSM
Cedar Rapids
Sister Brigid O’Connell, RSM, age 88, died on January 13, 2025, at HallMar Village after a brief illness. Mass of resurrection will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 10:30 am at the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Innovation Center, 9000 C. Ave. NE, Marion, Iowa, by celebrant, Father Jack Flaherty. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. The visitation will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Community Room at HallMar Village, 8900 C Ave. NE, Marion, with a wake service at 4:30 pm. Arrangements are with Teahen Funeral Home.
Sister Brigid was born on January 12, 1937, the daughter of Francis Lee and Mary Margaret (Murphy) O’Connell in Cedar Rapids. She attended school in Atkins and graduated from St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Cedar Rapids in 1954.
Sr. Brigid entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1954. She graduated from Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, IA with a BA in English in 1965, and then received a certificate in teaching Montessori Education from Seattle University, Seattle, WA in 1978. She taught primary grade school at St. Benedict’s, Decorah, IA, St. Matthew’s and Immaculate Conception in Cedar Rapids, IA, St. Nicholas and St. John’s, Waterloo, IA, Sacred Heart, Oelwein, IA, and St. Matthew’s, Kalispell, MT. After receiving her certificate, Sr. Brigid began teaching at Montessori schools at St. Theresa’s, Bishop Helmsing School, and Johnson Co. in Kansas City, MO. In 1988, she loved teaching the children at McAuley Montessori Center in Lima, Peru, South America, for the next 26 years.
After her retirement in 2014, Sister Brigid continued her love for teaching through tutoring English at the Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids. She is well known for her strong faith, quick smile, and sense of humor while enjoying jigsaw puzzles and reading.
Sister Brigid is survived by the Sisters of Mercy, her sister, Pat Davis and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Mary, her sisters JoAnne Sullivan, Mary Winfrey and Rita Hohenshell, and her brothers Danny, Tom and George O’Connell.
Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, 1125 Prairie Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402 or the Catherine McAuley Center, 1220 5th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52403.
Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.
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