Obituary of Sister Dorothy Kinsella

Sister Dorothy Kinsella, OSF (1934 - 2015) died at the University of Chicago Hospital, Chicago, Illinois on September 14, 2015. She was born in Chicago, Illinois to the late Margaret and John Kinsella. One of three children, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Daniel Patrick Kinsella. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Reichart of Lincolnshire, IL. Sister Dorothy was a treasured member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet) for 62 years. Sister Dorothy was a member of St. Clement Parish in Chicago. She attended the Parish grade school and graduated from the Parish High School. She received her Bachelor's Degree with a major in history from the College of St. Francis (University of St. Francis), a Ph.D. in American History from Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri, and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Claret Center in Chicago. Sister Dorothy began her ministry in education as an elementary teacher in Columbus, Ohio. In 1962 she joined the faculty of the one year old Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, teaching history, religion and speech. After completing graduate studies in 1971, she became an assistant professor in the History Department of the College of St. Francis. In 1975 her ministry became a ministry of peace and justice when she joined NETWORK, a Catholic Social Justice lobby in Washington, DC, as a staff member. She served on the Central Administration of the Congregation for four years. The plight of women and children in abusive family situations prompted Sister Dorothy to start Groundwork, a temporary home and educational opportunity for victims of domestic violence, at Guardian Angel Home in Joliet. She expanded these services to encompass violence prevention for adults. From 2001 to 2011 she ministered as Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Andrew Parish in Romeoville, Illinois. The wake for Sister Dorothy will be at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, 1201 Wyoming Avenue, Joliet, IL (Wyoming and Rt. 30) on Monday, September 21, 2015, from 2:00 - 6:45 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 4:45 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Procession will leave from Our Lady of Angels on Tuesday morning, September 22, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. The Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL 60435. For more information: (815) 741-5500.