Sister Kathleen Shannon

Sister Kathleen Shannon (Kathleen Ann), age 70, died peacefully at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on August 20, 2025 while on mission at Saint Agnes House in Baltimore, Maryland. She was born on January 6, 1955 in Baltimore, Maryland, the first of three children born to Leona Elizabeth (Kline) and James Andrew Shannon. She entered the Daughters of Charity on April 6, 1976 in Emmitsburg, Maryland from Saint Matthew Parish, Baltimore, Maryland.

After completing her initial formation, Sister Kathleen was sent on mission to St. Joseph High School in Emmitsburg, Maryland to assist in the school and then was missioned to St. Catherine Laboure School in Wheaton, Maryland to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Secondary Education at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. For 13 years, Sister Kathleen taught Mathematics in the following schools: Portsmouth Catholic Elementary School, Portsmouth, VA, Mother Seton School, Emmitsburg, MD, Seton High School, Baltimore, MD, and Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, MD. She then received a Master’s degree in Education at University of Maryland, College Park in 1990 and a Master’s in Business Administration in Finance at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD in 1998. This led her into the ministry of business administration and management, serving at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Washington, DC, where she was also the Sister Servant (local superior) from 1993 to 1999, and Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, MD. She assisted in the creation and management of the Perry Family Health Center in Washington, DC, and served in Mission Services at Sacred Heart Hospital, Cumberland, MD, and at Providence Hospital, Washington, DC, and as Outreach Coordinator at St. Cyprian Parish in Georgetown, SC. Sister Kathleen returned to education in 2011 as math teacher in the Pharmacy and Medical Technician Program at Caroline Center in Baltimore, MD, until August 2024. She was diagnosed with lymphoma and participated courageously in aggressive treatment regimens for 11 months.

Sister Kathleen keenly felt the presence of God in the natural world. Creative writing was her passion, and her artwork was an expression of her writing. She created beautiful prayer experiences for her local communities and provincial gatherings. She generously served on provincial committees addressing justice issues including care of Earth, anti-racism, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Sister Kathleen was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her mother, her sister Colleen Rose, brother Michael Thomas and sister-in-law Lori, her nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and Sisters in Community. A wake service will be held for Sister Kathleen on Friday, August 22, 2025 at 4:00PM in the Villa Chapel. Viewing will be from 10:00AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 23, 2025 in the Basilica Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00AM on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery on the grounds. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sister Kathleen’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108.