Sister Mary Eugenia Daley

We come together as a faith community to celebrate and to give thanks for the kind and caring life of Sister Mary Eugenia Daley, a Sister of Saint Joseph for 69 faith-filled years.

Gratitude to the New York State Nurse Honor Guard for their Nightingale tribute to Sister Eugenia, so well.

Eugenia made it clear in her great humility that she wanted a brief, “no frills” reflection of her life ~ one easily summed up in the role of nurse par excellence. For the past 8 years, Eugenia has called Maria Regina home – a spiritually rich and supportive home where she was cared for and treated with dignity and love.  Eugenia participated fully in the wealth of activities offered, especially those sponsored by the extraordinary Pastoral Care Team.  Daily Eucharist and the Rosary centered her day.  Eugenia beamed with joy to be greeted and engaged by any and all  visitors and sisters.

Eugenia, baptized Kathleen Anne, grew up in Woodside and Flushing, Queens along with her siblings Margaret, Hugh, and Thomas –  the loving children of Joseph and Margaret Daley.  Values of Gospel living, hospitality,  hard work and love focused their daily lives.

Eugenia attended Bishop McDonnell High School where she met our sisters and was inspired  by their lived charism of active love and kindness.  Entering after high school, Eugenia attended Brentwood College, always knowing that the care of the sick and the call to minister as a nurse tugged at her heart.  Immediately after graduating from Brentwood College, Eugenia attended St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing and obtained her RN in 1966.

Eugenia’s skills and sensitivity to those in need of healing were recognized and valued.  She went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from Columbia University, entering a lifelong ministry as nurse, nursing instructor, and head nurse at Catholic Medical Center, Maria Regina Residence, and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Flushing.

In 1988 and for the next 13 years, Eugenia brought her expertise and love of nursing into the professional arena as a peer review associate with Island Peer Review Organization, GHI, and Local 32 B.  She endeared herself to her co-workers by her work ethic and patient-centered focus in all decisions.  She was a team player and her affable and prayerful manner created a serene landscape in critical situations.

Later in her nursing career, Eugenia used her skills and love of people to train hospital volunteers at St. Joseph’s Hospital for 3 years while serving as a consultant for the Medical Society of New York State in utilization review.

Responding to the need for a substitute school nurse at Our Lady of Fatima School in Jackson Heights in 2007, Eugenia spent 6 happy and fruitful years bringing God’s healing touch to the children in her care.  Julie, her Social Worker, loved to treat Eugenia to her favorite frappé.
Eugenia’s final pathway in the healing profession was her volunteer work at Bridge to Life in Holy Family Parish, Flushing, where she epitomized the face of God to women facing life-changing choices for themselves and their children.

After a stellar and full life of presence to God’s people in her beloved profession as a nurse, Eugenia faced health challenges of her own.  She came home to Brentwood and brought her kind and empathetic presence to her resident sisters and companions at Maria Regina.

Nursing is often described as an art that requires devotion, compassion, and the ability to heal heart, mind and spirit – Eugenia did just that!

Today, as a community, we give thanks to God for the life of Sister Eugenia ~ a life lived simply, humbly, and prayerfully as a Sister of St. Joseph for 69 years.

May the loving embrace of our God welcome you home, dear Sister and Nurse

Sister Mary Eugenia Daley died on February 12,2026 in the 69th year of her religious life,