Catholic School Servant Passes Away
July 12, 2022
Sister Judith Sheahan, BVM, 98, of Mount Carmel Bluffs, 1160 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on Monday, July 11, 2022.
Sister Judith served the Catholic schools of Des Moines from 1970 to 1998. She was principal at St. Joseph Academy for two years until the "new" Dowling Catholic High School opened in 1972. She became assistant principal at Dowling where she remained until 1984.
Sister Jude Fitzpatrick, who was Superintendent of Schools at the time, hired her as the Schools Coordinator, focused on the areas of curriculum and staff development. In 1998, she retired.
"The gift of her presence was indeed a tremendous blessing to everyone associated with Catholic education in this city --- and throughout the Diocese," Sister Fitzpatrick said.
Sister Judith also ministered as an elementary and secondary teacher in Fort Dodge, Iowa, an elementary teacher in Maywood, Ill., and Casper, Wyo., and secondary teacher in St. Paul, Minn., Dubuque, Iowa, and Santa Barbara, Calif. She served the congregation as an administrative assistant.
She was born on Jan. 31, 1924, in Oak Park, Ill., to John and Beatrice (Stiles) Sheahan. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1942, from Help of Christians Parish, Chicago. She professed first vows on March 19, 1945, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1950.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister Helen (Lou) Copeland; brothers John (Mary), William (Patricia), and Gerald Sheahan; and a brother-in-law Frederick Furst. She is survived by a sister Judith Furst, Timonium, Mass.; a sister-in-law Cynthia Sheahan, Philadelphia; nieces; nephews; and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 79 years.