OBITUARY

Sister Irene Breslin, SU

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RHINEBECK, N.Y. — Sister Irene Breslin, SU, 93, a Sister of Saint Ursula for 77 years, died March 15, 2015 in Rhinebeck, NY. Sister Irene, formerly known as Sister Mary Thomas, was born in New York City, the daughter of the late Thomas and Catherine (Connelly) Breslin.

Sister Irene attended Our Lady of Lourdes School, in New York City, and entered the Society of Saint Ursula in 1938, professed first vows in 1940 and final vows in 1945.

Sister Irene was a graduate of Mount Saint Vincent College and completed her M.A. in English at Fordham University and her M.A. in Religious Studies at Providence College.

Sister Irene taught at Our Lady of Lourdes School, the Academy of Saint Ursula and J.A. Coleman High School in Kingston, N.Y., and served at Saint Augustine Parish, Providence. She was principal at Notre Dame School, New York City and Saint Gregory the Great School in Milwaukee, W.I.

Sister Irene wrote the first English biography of (Venerable) Anne de Xainctonge, foundress of the Society of Saint Ursula and served for many years in Tours, France, on the General Council, and in Rome. In Rome, Sister Irene was President of Regina Mundi Pontifical Institute and secretary of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG).

She was a member of the formation team for the young sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo for 10 years. In her retirement, Sister Irene ministered in Rome, Wilmington, N.C.,Wallace, N.C. and Rhinebeck, N.Y.

In addition to her religious family, the Sisters of Saint Ursula, Sister Irene is survived by several cousins. Her brothers Thomas and Howard predeceased her.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 18 at the chapel of Linwood Spiritual Center in Rhinebeck, N.Y., followed by burial on March 19 at St. Mary Cemetery, Kingston, N.Y.