Sister Roseann Hanley, MM

Born: June 23, 1928
Entered: September 6, 1950
Died: July 6, 2026

At ten minutes after noon on Monday, July 6, 2026, our much-loved Sister Roseann Hanley died quietly at our Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 98 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 76 years.

Roseann Frances Hanley was born in Richmond Hill, NY, on June 23, 1928, one of four children of Joseph T. and Agnes O’Hare Hanley. Her parents, her two sisters, and her brother have all pre-deceased her. Roseann grew up in Richmond Hill and belonged to St. Benedict Joseph Labre Parish in Richmond Hill where she attended the parish grammar school. She attended Our Lady of Wisdom High School for 2 1/2 years and did 2 years at Richmond Hill High School, graduating there in 1947. She went on to an 8-month course at Delehanty’s Business School, Jamaica, Queens, prior to working for 2 1/2 years as file clerk at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City.

On September 6, 1950, Roseann entered the Maryknoll Sisters from her same parish in Richmond Hill and, at reception, received the religious name of Sister Rose Kathleen. This name occasioned her being called Madre Catalina during a number of years in Chile, but officially, she returned to her baptismal name of Roseann. She made first profession of vows on March 7, 1953, at Maryknoll, NY, and for a year worked in Chi Rho Arts at Bethany and at the Motherhouse, particularly with Sister-artist Marie Pierre Semler, MM, who recognized Roseann’s art ability. Many will remember Roseann’s creation of a mold of the infant Jesus, from which she made small figures that were sold at our International Bazaars. Some of these ceramic infants are still found in small cribs displayed around our Maryknoll Center at Christmastime.

In the years between 1954 and 1958, Roseann completed studies toward a Bachelor of Education degree from Maryknoll Teachers College, Maryknoll, N.Y. She was assigned to Hawaii in 1958 and taught 2nd grade at St. Michael’s School in Waialua until 1963. While in Hawaii, she made final profession of vows in Punahou, Honolulu, on March 7, 1959.

In 1963, she was assigned to Chile in South America where she was to serve for the next 43 years. She began with language study in Pucon, and a year of pastoral work in San Alberto Parish, Santiago, and in 1967 she was assigned to Licanten, Chile, where she was a member of the parish pastoral team until 1983. She returned to Maryknoll, NY, for Congregational Service from 1984 to 1987, working in Treasury and as Supervisor of the Mail Desk. Upon her return to Chile, she resumed pastoral work in the town of Rauco until 2003.

At this time, Roseann and Sister Bernice Babin, friend and companion in pastoral work for many years in Chile, discerned it was time for them to make the renewal program at Maryknoll, N.Y. and retire there, offering any services they may be able to do. However, by the end of the renewal program, the two Sisters had changed their minds. In contact with the Sisters and a Bishop and priest in Chile, Roseann and Bernice returned to Chile for three more years of pastoral work in the town of Curico, returning to Maryknoll, NY, in 2006.

Roseann delighted in what she called “the whole new way of being Church” that was evolving following the 2nd Vatican Council. In the rural areas, she worked alongside lay persons who were assuming many new roles, being called “ministries” for the first time. Her own particular gifts of art and music, including not only her pleasant singing voice, but also playing the guitar and harmonica, often together, led her to organize arts and crafts workshops, and to forming choral groups and being in charge of parish Church music. She worked with youth wherever she went, once getting permission to organize a mixed group of Scouts. These young people were proud to belong to a world-wide organization; they felt united to Boys and Girls Scouts everywhere!

In 2006 Roseann joined the Chi Rho Community where she was an active retiree for 12 years, among other things, being elected by her companions to serve a term on the Coordinators’ Team, and maintaining her connection with Chile by adopting that country as her prayer ministry. In 2018, Roseann joined the Eden Community, and we express gratitude to those who welcomed her there and lovingly looked after her care during her later years. As a last gift to mission, Roseann has donated her body to science.

Roseann is survived by her sister-in-law, ten nieces and nephews, many grandnieces and grandnephews, and several devoted cousins. We greet and welcome Maryknoll Father Dave LaBuda, MM who will preside our liturgy for Roseann this morning.