Obituary of Sister Helen Coughlan

Died at Carondelet Village on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Merritt and Katherine O'Callaghan Coughlan; siblings, Thomas P. (Helen), Robert M. (Jeanette), Katherine (Dr. Lou) Flynn, Mary (Jack) Pearson, Ann and Dan Coughlan; brother-in-law, Greg Robinson. Sister Helen taught high school classes at St. Joseph's Academy and Derham Hall High School in St. Paul and at St. James Academy in Grand Forks, ND before beginning her more than 30 years teaching in the English Department at the College of St. Catherine (now St. Catherine University) in St. Paul. During this time she earned her MA degree from Notre Dame and her PhD in English and Linguistics from the University of Minnesota. She continued to do research and writing throughout the years. In summers she volunteered to teach CCD classes in Granite Falls and Hopkins, MN and in several locations in ND. In 1995 she began ten years of volunteer service at Grace House, Clare House, Open Arms and St. Mary's Clinics serving in a variety of capacities, including delivering meals and supplies to these agencies. A wake will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Provincial House, 1880 Randolph Ave., St. Paul with the funeral liturgy following at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery immediately after the liturgy. Sister Helen is survived by her sister, Maura Coughlan Robertson; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Reardon Coughlan; many nieces; nephews; other relatives, friends, colleagues; the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates and her caregivers in the Arbor at Carondelet Village. Memorials may be made to St. Mary Clinics, 1884 Randolph Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105.