Sister Catherina Walsh, BVM

DUBUQUE, Iowa — A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Oct. 7 at Mount Carmel Bluffs for Sister Catherina Walsh, BVM, who spent more than three decades as a teacher, administrator and volunteer in Rock Island. Burial was in Mount Carmel Cemetery.

Sister Catherina died Sept. 30, 2021, at MercyOne Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 90.

The daughter of Arthur and Rita (Ryan) Walsh, Sister Catherina was born on Dec. 2, 1930, in Dubuque. She entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 8, 1950, professing first vows on March 19, 1953, and final vows on July 16, 1958.

Sister Catherina was a teacher or principal at schools in Illinois, South Dakota, Wyoming and Iowa. In the Diocese of Peoria, she was a junior high teacher (1975-86) and vice principal (1986-98) at Jordan Catholic School in Rock Island. In 1995, she was named Outstanding Teacher of the Diocese of Peoria.

Following retirement in 1998, Sister Catherina served as a school volunteer and parish visitor at Sacred Heart Parish in Rock Island until she moved back to the motherhouse in Dubuque in 2009.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, James Walsh; and sisters Ellen (Bob) Schlueter, Mary Anne (Werner) Pufahl, and Katherine “Kathy” Walsh. Sister Catherina is survived by a brother, Michael (Mary Alice) Walsh; sister-in-law Geraldine “Geri” Walsh, both of Dubuque; nieces and nephews; and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 71 years.

Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003, or bvmsisters.org.