Sr. Josephine Quinlan

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Sr. Josephine Quinlan

April 8, 1930 – August 1, 2024

Josephine (Johanna) was the sixth of ten children born to Thomas and Johanna in Kilmacow, CO Kilkenny, Ireland. She spoke often of a happy childhood where the siblings played together during the day and in the evening enjoyed dancing and playing piano and violin together. Family life centered around saying the daily rosary together and their faith was central to life in the Quinlan home. Love of family continued to be treasured by Josephine for her entire life. Even when she was no longer able to go home to visit, family members came to visit and stayed in touch by telephone and FaceTime.

After primary school, Josephine attended boarding school for grades 7-12 but missed her family and looked forward to vacations more than being in school. At the age of 18 she entered the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Bloomfield, Ireland and was received as a Novice the following year, as Sr. Mary Incarnata. After making her First Profession of Vows in 1951 she came to the United States and began teaching in Philadelphia. She made her Final Profession in Belle Prairie, MN in 1956 and spent the following years teaching in the US in Belle Prairie and Brainerd, MN; Boston, MA; Savannah, GA; and Syracuse, NY as well as in Bloomfield, Ireland. In 1987 she began Parish Ministry and served in parishes in Tenafly, NJ and Savannah and Augusta, Georgia. She brought the same energy and love to the parishes where she served as she had brought to the students she taught. Parish Seniors remembered the turkey dinners she lovingly prepared for their special “pre-Thanksgiving dinners”.

In 2014, after suffering from chronic back pain for years, she retired to Tenafly. In announcing her retirement to parishioners in Augusta, the pastor wrote in the parish bulletin “…She is the most loving religious I have ever met. I know the many folks who are homebound are sick to see her go. Sr. Josephine brought so much joy to them as she faithfully made her rounds week after week.”

After retiring, Josephine continued to bring joy in her quiet way to all of us here and was interested in all that was happening. She often spoke of how she had loved teaching. When being interviewed by a student from Mount Carmel School in Tenafly she shared that in the future she hoped to see more development in technology, newer inventions that would increase support and service to humans, and would really make a difference. Her advice to the student was “to respect one another and live life to the fullest” … “The only things you can take with you when you die are your good deeds.”

Dear Josephine, you have so many good deeds to bring with you as you meet God. May you enjoy being united again with your parents and brothers and sisters who welcome you. Thank you for all that you have been and given of yourself to all of us.

With love, 

All of your Missionary Franciscan Sisters