(1920-2017)

Sister Helen Walsh, known also as Sister Rose Michaeleen, was born in Chicago on June 15, 1920. She was the second oldest of six children born to William and Rosemary (O’Sullivan) Walsh. 

Her parents were married at St. Bride Church on Thanksgiving Day in 1917. Because her dad was serving in the army, the couple walked out of church beneath an arch of soldier’s swords in military style. When the war ended, her father returned to his law practice. 

In her autobiography, Sister Helen described the arrival of her five siblings and the gifts of her parents.

The first child, Rosemary, was born on November 1, 1918, in a military hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. Soon the war ended and the family moved to Port Huron, my father’s birthplace. When I was expected, my father took my mother back to Chicago, where he felt the best doctors could be had. However because of the speed of my arrival, a hospital intern was in charge and I arrived late on Sunday night June 15, 1920, at South Shore Hospital. When I was four, my brother Billie was born and the story was later told that I asked my mother if she could return him get a baby that didn’t cry so much. My last three siblings, Nan, Mary Jo and Joe, were born in Port Huron and all were surrounded by doting relatives.

Read more about Sister Helen (pdf)

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

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