The late Sr. Helen Keegan

Sr. Helen Keegan, late of Athy and formerly of Derryroe, Ballinagore, Co. Westmeath, died peacefully in the Mater Hospital on Monday, September 6th, 2010.Helen was born in Ballinagore, Co. Westmeath on 20th November, 1943 the eldest of five girls and six boys. Having completed her Secondary Education in the Mercy School, Kilbeggan, Helen entered the Convent of Mercy Athy on October 29th 1961 and made her Final profession on July 25th 1967.Helen completed her teacher training in Carysfort College and commenced teaching in St. Michael’s Primary School, Athy. She studied for her H.Dip and Masters at Maynooth University and moved to Scoil Mhuire, Secondary School, where she taught maths. The position of principal of the school was assumed by her in 1981 and this post was held by her for 18 years. She was then appointed to work in the Education Office in Limerick where she continued her ministry in Secondary Education. During her teaching career she was regarded as a down to earth woman who was fair to everyone and to whom everyone was equal, be they staff or students at the school.She was also a woman who saw much change in both religious life and life in general and was keen to embrace change. Helen’s happy disposition and great zest for life endeared her to staff, pupils, parents, and to all who knew her.In 2001 Helen was elected on to the Provincial Team. During her term on the team she visited Nairobi and she was determined to return to work there.Prior to her departure to Nairobi in September 2008 funds were raised in Westmeath to assist the people of Kenya. Helen spent eight very happy months there working and managing a local school. Due to ill health she had to return to home in March 2009. The last few months were not been easy for Helen, but she accepted her suffering and illness with great patience.She was laid to rest in St. Michael’s Cemetery following her funeral Mass at St. Michael’s parish church, Athy. The funeral Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Dennehy and Fr. Kieran Dunne, who was past Chaplain to the Mercy Sisters in Athy and is current Chaplain at the Mater Hospital and ministered to Sr. Helen in her final days. The parish choir and well as two soloists sang and the service was attended by staff and students from Ardscoil na Trionoide and Scoil Mhicil Naofe.May Helen’s kind soul rest in peace, and may she now experience the fullness of God’s presence.Helen’s will be greatly missed by her sisters and brothers, Peg (London), Maura (Glengorm, Kilbeggan), Betty (London), Sean (Castletown-Geoghegan). Tom (Derrygorm, Ballinagore), Dympna (Wicklow), Andy (Dublin), Martin (Glengorm, Kilbeggan), Frank (Celbridge), Oliver (Kells); her sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She had a special place in her heart for her many nieces and nephews, whose progress she followed where ever she travelled.