(1931-2026)

When Sister Elizabeth Lynch first became principal of St. Denis School in Chicago in 1971, she liked the school and its South Side neighborhood so much that she knew it was the right place for her. In fact, it remained the right place for her for a remarkable thirty years.

For Elizabeth, being at St. Denis meant coming home to Chicago. She was born there on May 3, 1931, and baptized Elizabeth Mary Alice. She was the younger of the two children of Charles and Alice (O’Neil) Lynch, following her brother, Patrick, who was two years older than she. Charles was a Chicago police officer, as his father had been before him, and Patrick eventually followed in both of their footsteps on the police force.

Elizabeth’s childhood was graced by, as she put it in her life story, “loving and fun parents and a delightful brother,” as well as both sets of grandparents and “many doting aunts and uncles.” She attended kindergarten at St. Peter Canisius School and first grade at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Oak Park.

When she was ready to start second grade, the family moved into St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, where the Adrian Dominicans taught in the parish school. The Sisters were a huge influence on her: even though she was taught by the Sisters of St. Casimir in high school at St. Casimir Academy and had two aunts and a cousin who were Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when she finally decided she had a vocation, it was to the Adrian Dominican Sisters… much to the surprise of her BVM aunts.

After graduating from St. Casimir in 1949, Elizabeth worked as a stenographer for the Wilson Meat Packing Company for about a year and a half until her school friend Ann Leonard, later to become Ann Morrissey, suggested they write to Adrian to ask for entrance. They both became postulants in February 1951. Although Ann (Sister Thomas Therese) left during their novitiate, she and Sister Elizabeth remained great friends.

Read more about Sister Elizabeth (PDF)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. 

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.

Recording of Sister Elizabeth's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Elizabeth's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

 

 

Leave your comments and remembrances – if you don't see the comment box below, click on the "Read More" link.