By Catholic Review Staff
A funeral Mass for Sister Elena Goulding, of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, was offered April 14 in Assisi House in Aston, Pa. Sister Elena, 81, died April 7 in Assisi House.
Born in Knockanure, Ireland, she entered the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in 1949 and professed her first vows in 1952. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Neumann University in Aston and a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University. She ministered primarily in education, prison ministry and eldercare.
Sister Elena ministered for 26 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, teaching at Immaculate Conception School in Towson, St. Stephen School in Kingsville, Father Charles Hall Middle School and St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. During her later years in the archdiocese, she served as a prison chaplain.
Sister Elena also ministered in education for 12 years in the Diocese of Wilmington, Del. Her service in education also took her Washington, D.C., and Spartanburg, S.C.
In 1993 Sister Elena returned to her native Ireland where she ministered for 14 years. She served as head of home at Ailt An Oir in Dun Laoghaire and was a tutor at Griffeen Valley Educate Together. In 2008 Sister Elena moved to Assisi House, where she served in prayer ministry until her death.
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