Sr. Patricia Foley, CSJ, entered eternal life April 18, 2024, at the age of 88.
Patricia Foley was born in Ecorse, Michigan, on Sept. 2, 1935, the daughter of Patrick and Anne Terese (Clune) Foley. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier in Ecorse, Michigan, at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on July 1, 1953. Her reception was on Jan. 3, 1954, she pronounced first vows on Jan. 3, 1956, and final vows on Jan. 3, 1959.
Sister Patricia earned her A.B. Degree from Nazareth College in 1966 with a major in History and a minor in Social Studies Elementary Curriculum. In 1971, she also received her Master’s Degree in Psychology/Marriage from the University of Detroit with a minor in Pastoral Counseling.
Sister Patricia began teaching at St. Bernard’s in Detroit, Michigan, and also taught at St. Veronica’s and St. Cyril in the Archdiocese of Detroit. In the Diocese of Lansing, she taught at Holy Family, St. Agnes, St. Mary, and St. John. In 1971 after completing studies at the University of Detroit, Sister Patricia became a Counselor at the League of Catholic Women, and later, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Mt. Clemens. Sister Patricia was a Chaplain at Catherine McCauley Health Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and at Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Sister Patricia volunteered as a Pastoral Minister at Genesys Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Sister Patricia retired and moved to Nazareth, Michigan, in 2012 and continued to stay busy by volunteering not only her time, but her loving spirit.
During her later years, Sr. Patricia volunteered as a Eucharistic Minister at Borgess Hospital and at Nazareth Center. She also participated in the Kalamazoo RSVP Volunteer program at Nazareth Center. She took special interest in the Discerners Group of Associates and enjoyed their friendship. Her warm, inviting smile and presence welcomed anyone who met her. She had her own “Ministry of Correspondence” writing, texting, calling her many family members, friends, sisters, and associates.
The community of saints who were part of her life now welcome her. She is embraced by the loving arms of God as she is reunited with her beloved parents, sisters, and brothers. Once again, the “trinity” of the Foley sisters is complete.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Ann Therese, CSJ, Rita, CSJ, and Eleanor; and brothers: Jack, Daniel, and Edward. Service of Remembrance and Mass of Christian Burial will be live-streamed Wednesday, April 24, at 1 p.m. from Holy Family Chapel at Nazareth Center. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Kalamazoo.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
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