Sister Shawn Kelley, OSF, 95, died Aug.19 at The Alverno in Clinton.
Lois Audrey Kelley was born July 23, 1929 in Burlington, the youngest child of Walter and Edna (Vogelgesang) Kelley.
She graduated from Burlington High School and obtained a BA in Physical Education from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. A convert to Catholicism, she was baptized at St. James Church in Washington. She taught in Washington prior to entering religious life. She later earned an MA in Guidance and Counseling from San Diego State College, San Diego.
She entered the Sisters of St. Francis at Mount St. Clare Convent in Clinton on Sept. 8, 1958 and received the name Mary Shawn at her reception on June 15, 1959. She pronounced perpetual vows on Aug. 12, 1964.
Sister Kelley taught at schools in Nebraska, Missouri and California. She also taught at Mount St. Clare Academy and College and at Sacred Heart School, both in Clinton. She primarily taught junior high courses, physical education, biology, English and guidance. She served as a council member for the Sisters of St. Francis from 1972 to 1976.
After retiring from education and returning to Clinton, she assisted the administrator of The Canticle and enjoyed volunteering at the Felix Adler Children’s Discovery Center.
In her earlier days, Sister Kelley was an avid tennis player. She also enjoyed knitting, reading and writing. She shared her love of reading by participating in literature classes and book clubs at The Canticle. She valued communicating with asylum-seekers living in Illinois.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 23 at the Canticle. Burial followed at St. Irenaeus Calvary Cemetery.
