Sister Profile

Sister Betty Donoghue

Formerly Sister Clare Patrice

Sister Betty was born on June 5, 1937 and died on December 1, 2020.

Biography

Sister Betty was a native of Melrose, Massachusetts. Her final ministry was in health care and residential services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Betty, formerly Sister Clare Patrice, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1954. She professed final vows on January 23, 1962.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education.

Sister Betty ministered as a teacher in Indiana, Illinois, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including six years at St. Philip Neri in Indianapolis from 1963 to 1969.

Sister Betty also ministered with federal death row inmates, including Dustin Lee Honken, who was executed on July 17, 2020.

Here is her complete ministry

Sister Betty Donoghue (formerly Sister Clare Patrice)

Complete Ministry

In Illinois: Teacher, Our Lady of Sorrows, Chicago (1957-58); Teacher, Immaculate Conception, Norwood Park (1960-63); Nurses Aide, Norwood Park Home, Chicago (1980-81).

In Indiana: Teacher, St. Mary, Lafayette (1958-60); Teacher, St. Philip Neri, Indianapolis (1963-69); Nurses Aide Infirmary, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1976-80); Nursing Assistant, Health Care Services, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1981-2001); Local Coordinator for Health Care, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2001-2002); Minister of Care, Ministry of Care, PHC, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2002-2016); Volunteer/Ministry of Care/Residential Service, PHC East West, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2016-2020).

In New Hampshire: Teacher, St. Mary, Rochester (1969-74).

In Massachusetts (Teacher, St. Patrick, Stoneham (1974-76).

Obituary

Read her obituary here.

Read more

Sister Betty is featured in the following content on the Sisters of Providence website:

Photographs

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Sister Betty Donoghue all decked out as Santa’s helper
Several Sisters of Providence celebrated Jubilees in December. They were honored at a celebration with the Sisters of Providence General Council. The sisters celebrating Jubilees included (front, from left) Sister Marie Smith, General Superior Sister Denise Wilkinson and Sister Betty Donoghue, (middle) Sister Suzanne Smith, General Council member Sister Mary Beth Klingel and SIsters Marilyn Trobaugh, Mary Rita Griffin and Kathleen Dede, (back) General Council members Sisters Jenny Howard and Dawn Tomaszewski, Sister Dorothy Larson, General Council member Sister Lisa Stallings and Sisters Joseph Fillenwarth and Ruth Ellen Doane.
Sister Betty Donoghue and Sister Jane Bodine
Visiting during the Providence Associate spring retreat social are, from left, Sister Betty Donoghue, Providence Associate Debbie Dillow and Sister Bernadette Mary Carroll.