Sister Eileen Alice Martin (Sister Maureen Ann) ’78

Sister Eileen Alice Martin (Sister Maureen Ann), died February 22, 2025.

She was born in Brooklyn, NY, and attended Corpus Christi Elementary School and Blessed Sacrament High School, both in Manhattan. After graduation she worked for two years before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1953. 

Sister Maureen Ann obtained a bachelor’s in history from College (University) of Mount Saint Vincent, a master’s in elementary education from Seton Hall University, NJ, and master’s in parish ministry and spirituality from Saint Michael’s. New York State awarded her Permanent Certification in Social Studies, 7-12, and School Administration. 

Sister Eileen’s 50 years of ministry were spent in elementary education as teacher and administrator. In her first ten years of teaching, she was assigned to Saint Mary, Yonkers, Saint Margaret of Cortona, the Bronx, and Saint Mary, Staten Island. She was then assigned to Blessed (Saint) Elizabeth Ann Seton in Shrub Oak, NY, where she taught for 15 years. 

In 1981, she assumed administration of Saint John the Evangelist School in Center Moriches, NY, followed by teaching and faith formation opportunities in upstate New York. She returned to Center Moriches to become administrator of the recently created Our Lady Queen of Apostles Regional Catholic School, a position she held for 15 years, until retirement in 2007.

Sister Eileen volunteered in the religious education, youth, and homebound ministries of Saint John the Evangelist Parish, along with visiting a local nursing home and a prison in Riverhead. In 2015, she joined the retirement community of Mount Saint Vincent Convent, later moving to Cabrini of Westchester in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she resided when she died on February 22, 2025, in her seventy-second year of commitment as a Sister of Charity of New York. 

Sister Eileen’s ministry in Our Lady Queen of Apostles Regional School was so well known that Suffolk County declared “Sister Eileen Martin Day” when she retired. Her successful fund-raising events provided new educational, athletic, and after-school programs that drew recognition for her dedication to Catholic education. In her “down time,” she loved to walk the beach or read a good book.

Sister Eileen loved her Irish heritage, which was easy to recognize in her, and an Irish tune always had her up and dancing. She spread her devotion for Mary, Mother of God, to the children, teaching them the rosary and praying it with them.

She is survived by extended family, friends and her sisters in religion.