Sister Ellen Dempsey, SHSp, died suddenly on April 26, 2021. Born on June 18, 1938 in Guilkagh, Menlough, Country Galway, Ireland, she left her homeland in 1955 to make a home with the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate.

During her 64 years of religious life, she was an elementary school teacher in Houston, Brownsville, and Dallas, Texas, and in Pascagoula, Mississippi.  In San Antonio, she served at Carmelite Center and Healy Murphy Child Development Center.  Her favorite pastoral years, however, were spent teaching in various schools in New Orleans, La. In her prime, Sr. Ellen was regarded as an excellent teacher who affirmed her students and marveled at their uniqueness. She spent several summers ministering in Oaxaca, Mexico and always had a heart for the missions.

Sister Ellen's own sufferings has carved into her a heart of compassion.  For many years, she kept vigil with her dying sisters in community.  On Monday morning, The Good Shepherd came for her and took her home with no waiting.

Sister is mourned by her sisters, Kathleen Quinn (England) and Noreen Dempsey (Australia) and her sisters-in-law, Kitty Dempsey (Ireland) and Freda Dempsey (England), her nieces and nephews and her sisters in community.

Because of the current circumstances surrounding COVID-19, a private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Motherhouse.

Donations can be made in Sister Ellen's memory to the ministries of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate.