Sister Dolores Marie McHugh, BVM
Sister Dolores Marie McHugh, BVM died Friday, April 24, 2020, at Caritas Center in Dubuque, Iowa.
Virtual Visitation and Funeral Rite of Committal were Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the Marian Hall Chapel. Burial is in Mount Carmel Cemetery.
From 1984-2000, Sister Dolores Marie served on the BVM congregation’s leadership team, first as vice president and then eight years as president. She ministered as pastoral care coordinator at Mount Carmel in Dubuque, Iowa. She served as superintendent of schools and educational coordinator and consultant for the Diocese of Des Moines.
In earlier ministries, she was an elementary teacher at Presentation in Chicago; Incarnation and Holy Family in Glendale, Calif.; and St. Catherine in Kansas City, Mo., where she also was principal. Sister Dolores served on the Board of Directors for Dubuque Bank & Trust and Clarke University. She received multiple awards in recognition of her excellence and leadership in the field of education.
Sister Dolores Marie was born on April 24, 1933, in Ambridge, Pa., to Michael Patrick and Mary Catherine Abbey McHugh. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1949, from St. Matthew Parish, Phoenix. She professed first vows on March 19, 1952, and final vows on July 16, 1957.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Patricia McClure, Margaret Huffman, and Eileen Navins; and brothers John and Frank McHugh. She is survived by a sister Dolores Falconer, Plainfield, Ill.; nieces and nephews; and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 70 years.
Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or online at https://www.bvmsisters.org/support_donate.cfm.
Eulogy for Dolores Marie McHugh Sharing of Memories for Dolores Marie McHugh BVM
I was very sad to hear about Sister Dolores’s passing. My sisters and I have some very fond memories of Sr. Dolores. We first met her when our sister, Sr. Mary Ann Elizabeth Phelps passed away in 2005. She was so kind to us the whole day and continued with her kindness to us in future visits. She always remembered who we were and made us feel special. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. We will never forget her.
The Phelps Girls:
Patricia Vincent
Carol Hamerly
Vicki Bergheger
Shelley Penderson
Sr. Dolores Marie is my last link to the BVMs whose distinguished service blessed many at St. Catherine’s (Kansas City, MO). Sr. Dolores Marie taught me in 5th grade and later assumed the Principal’s duties. Imagine the bad old days where there was no air conditioning (in Missouri, in June!). After lunch, Sister put on records and instructed us to put our heads down on our desks (many promptly fell asleep). The Cask of Amontillado is forever etched in me brain. But, then again, is Sr.’s remark that she took a course in the Playboy Philosophy at Mundelein. Well done, Sister. Rest in peace.
Sister Dolores, was a good friend over the many years we served our communities in leadership.
She was extremely kind to me and together we survived some trying times as major superiors and bishops began to dialogue and really listen to the whole church.
Dolores had many good stories to lighten our sharings and I enjoyed her humor very much.
May God bless her abundantly as only God can. Sister Gail Fitzpatrick, OCSO
Fond memories of our years at St Catherine’s. Our trips to Avila.
Each Saturday morning working in classrooms filled to capacity…I will always remember your positive leadership; beautiful smiling Irish eyes. You are smiling in Gods eyes now, Love always. Charles and Suzanne
I had the privilege of working at the BVM Center while Sr. Dolores Marie was a Vice-president and then President of the BVM Congregation. Her love of God and her quick wit and humor have remained with me over the decades.
While my thoughts and prayers go out to family & friends left behind, I rejoice that she has joined our God and is smiling down upon us.
Rest in peace dear Sister.
Our sympathy to all of Sister Dolores family and the
Sisters of Charity that she shared her life with.
Our prayers are with you,
Ralph and Rita
It was my privilege to have Sister Dolores as my supervisor for 15 years of my 20 years at Mt Carmel. Although I was a bit afraid of her at first (this is no secret as I told her many times), I found her to be approachable, supportive, and encouraging as we expanded the BVM Development Program. She was not only interested in work performance but in my family and life outside of work. My admiration for her as an administrator and as a personal friend has deepened throughout the years. I will miss her.
Rest in peace.
DOLORES POSSESSED A WARM BEAUTIFUL PERSONALITY.
SHE LOVED PEOPLE AND DEVELOPED SKILLS TO SHOW IT.
HER LIFE OF SERVICE TO THE WORLD AS A BVM IS OUTSTANDING, THANKS TO RECENT ‘SALT’ MAGAZINE.
I just received my issue of Salt and and saw Sister Dolores Marie on the cover. I did not believe that this could be the same sister who taught me in 7th grade (I am 69 so that person must be over 100 years old, at least, right?) But reading the article I discovered that she is the same age as my mother, and indeed she was not only my 7th grade teacher but also taught my two brothers at Holy Family Elementary School in Glendale, California. I have had many teachers throughout my educational life, but she is one of the teachers that my brothers and I shall never forget. I have to say that she ran a disciplined class and many of us were a bit afraid of her. But she was always fair. Many years later I became a teacher and principal and I understood that learning must be combined with discipline, fairness and an enriched learning environment. My brothers were together in the same class–for one academics came easily, the other was a natural athlete . She encouraged my parents to appreciate their individual talents. My regret is that I was unaware that up until April she was still here. I would have like to have written her to tell her on behalf of my brothers and myself, thank you.
Gloria Montanez Lopez, Richard Montanez and Robert Montanez.