Sister St. Raymond Quinn, CSJ

I welcome you all, those here present and those who are with us through the wonders of technology, to this sacred space, our Sacred Heart Chapel, the setting of many important moments in the life of our beloved Sister St. Raymond Quinn, whose life we have come together to celebrate.  Raymond, universally known and loved as Mickey, was a Sister of St. Joseph for 67 years, and she lived those years in deep faith, great love, and total commitment to the God who called her by her name, and who has now called her home.

Catherine Quinn was the third child and only daughter of Raymond and Beatrice Quinn and she grew up in a warm and loving home in Our Lady Help of Christians parish, Brooklyn.  For unknown reasons, from an early age her brothers Edward and Raymond called her Mickey…and it stayed with her throughout her life…and it did suit her.

Mickey graduated from St. Brendan’s High School and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph the same year.  Her first teaching assignment was to the elementary school at St. Brendan’s while she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Brentwood College. She then went to Our Lady of Sorrows in Corona, where she brought much joy to the children in the first grade until, having earned a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Hunter and another from Fordham in Administration, she was appointed Principal of the school.  As Principal, Mickey was known and loved for her kindness, her gentleness, her warmth, and her humor.  All those who were part of that school community remember those days with great fondness and gratitude.

When Mickey was sent to St. Gabriel’s in East Elmhurst, Sister John Raymond wrote her, advising her not to work too hard.  That little line reveals volumes about Mickey’ s work ethic because everyone knows that Sister John Raymond’s highest praise was “She is a good worker!”  For Sister John to exhort someone to take a bit of rest was, really, unheard of, so Mickey got gold stars for that one!

Her final assignment was as Assistant Coordinator of Sacred Heard Convent in Hempstead and, as usual, Mickey brought her special gifts of warmth, kindness, love and compassion, helping each sister in the house to live her life as fully and joyfully as possible.

There are many, many stories and memories…some were shared last night at the Villa in Rockville Centre where Mickey lived for the last eight years.  Sister Karen Cavanagh, a dear friend from high school days, will now share some more.
S.Elizabeth Hill

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This is a moment of thanks, of pride and of privilege in which our Congregation welcomes you to this sacred space, to this blessed place, to this basilica of a chapel which has been for 67 years a familiar place of reflection and prayer for Kathleen Mary Margaret Quinn (the name her parents, Raymond and Beatrice (Brigid) gave her at her birth and Baptism) …

for Sister Saint Raymond (her name received as a Sister of St Joseph) for Mickey (the name given her by her brothers, Ed and Raymond)  for Aunt Mickey, the name and person whom you, her nieces, nephews, grands and great grands know her and will continue to know her in the love, nurture and embrace of affection you knew and felt in her hugging and living… and Mickey, the name by which all of us here know her… and …We gather very specially with Alicia, her friend and sister of more than 40 years,  to remember, to celebrate and to believe in a life that never ends and in a love which endures forever.

Mickey has for so many years dubbed many of us here a nickname … with a title as she greeted us, welcomed us, … engaging us in a warmth and care which never seemed to diminish.  Since her death the other day I’ve remembered Mickey always and for so many years addressing me and others as “Chica”!  For a man she’d say “Chico”We know that these Spanish titles literally translated mean “Girl and Boy” … actually “little girl and little boy” or “young woman and young man”.

Reflecting on these memories led me to looking up and to discover yet a new and deeper awareness of these words … there’s a sense of gratitude and of cultural significance for them. In Hispanic culture it’s a term of endearment …expressing a warmth, a familiarity, a kindness and sense of companionship with another.

So, not only have we been called “Chica or Chico” … we’ve all witnessed those accompanying behaviors and beliefs with Mickey. It was and is a blessed greeting of endearment and of kindness.

Mickey had one request for her funeral Mass and that will be honored this day.  She asked that the Gospel be Matthew’s account of the Beatitudes. I’m quite certain it contains the words she prayed we might hear this day and which she hoped we would not only hear but might adhere to in our own lives …  She did this in her own life … we are the witnesses.

Her every day in ministry these 65 + years … her ministry to little ones, her long administration at Our Lady of Sorrows School, her every gathering in many parishes, times with her family and her friends, with dear neighbors along life’s way, with caregivers and co-workers …brought Jesus into those moments…  She was a blessing and she blessed all who knew her.

I believe that Mickey saw the face of God in her relationships, her ministry, her generous service and even in her pain and sufferings. Blessed was she then and is she this day. She kept her heart and her eyes fixed on the person she was with at each moment, on the love of God and every neighbor without distinction and on the challenge to proclaim this Gospel at all times … to proclaim it as a warmth, a kindness, a compassion and endearment…

… and to help this Gospel challenge be less burdensome for us or for herself… Mickey could always call forth an amazing wit and humor.

Blessed were we.

Blessed are we.

Mickey, today may you be with Jesus and hear Him speak those words. “Come, “blessed of God”, come, dear “Chica”, receive now that kindness, compassion,  everlasting endearment and welcome that your loving God has prepared for you!”
S.Karen Cavagnaugh

Sister St, Raymond Quinn, CSJ died on July 30,2024 in the 67th year of her religious life.