Sister Edna McKeever, CSJ

Sister Edna McKeever, CSJ died on November 5, 2013 in the 63rd year of her religious life.

Edna McKeever entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 6, 1951 and at Reception she received the name Sister Paul Edna. Her early years in ministry were spent teaching elementary school. Later she became a teacher of French at the high school level and then a researcher and archivist.

Edna earned a BA in French at St. Joseph College, an MA In French from Brooklyn College and became certified in French at Catholic University in Angers,  France. She also was certified as an archivist By LI University Palmer School and Modern Archives Institute in Washington, DC

Her mass of Christian burial was celebrated in Sacred Heart Chapel in Brentwood. This space sacred to our congregation was so beautifully and meaningfully designed to inspire and represent what our lives in this congregation should aspire to. Edna knew each and every detail of this space and her life reflected their deepest meanings.

Edna understood the meaning and purpose of our congregational spirit in the deepest part of her life. She offered her many gifts, of music, facility with the French language and a passion for the historical roots of our congregation as teacher, archivist, and researcher. She did this with a deep sense of union with the God who loved her and she sought to deepen that relationship in contemplative prayer and reflection on the foundation of the community of the great glove of God. She took time in her life to stay in that contemplative space and listen attentively to the God who loved her unconditionally.

The fruits of her love of God and neighbor were enjoyed by our congregation as we followed the call of the second Vatican Council to for back to our roots and bring our foundation’s original spirit and charism to this time in history. Many other congregations were also guided by Edna and most significantly she professionalized the archives of our foundation at LePuy.

 Edna lived her life exploring the depths of what it means to be a member of the congregation of the great love of God. In the last stages of her journey through sickness and suffering she revealed to all of us what Father Medaille taught. In times of contradiction and great suffering live with a gentle, peaceful tone. Union with Jesus Christ and abandonment to the will of God are interdependent in the search for union with God.

 So we offer our admiration and gratitude to Edna we promise to follow a modern version of our maxims Edna helped to create in 2004: Pray deeply, courageously and authentically – not to change God’s mind, but to ask God to change us.