Sister Esther Aherne Op

Obituary Sister Esther Aherne OP, 83, (Sister Mary Bartholomew), a Dominican Sister of Tacoma died January 15, in Seattle. Sister Esther was born the seventh of eight children to Annie (Tierney) and William Aherne in the family home in St. Patrick Place, Mallow, County Cork, Ireland. Although her elementary and secondary education was with the Sisters of Mercy and one of her sisters entered the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia, Sister Esther was drawn to Dominican life and entered St. Agnes Postulate in Crosshaven, County Cork on September 29, 1952. She received the habit in 1953, made First Profession in 1955 and Final Profession in 1960. Sister Esther's ministerial life focused on the "education of youth." For over 50 years she served as teacher and administrator. She taught for many years at St. Patrick's in Tacoma. Other schools included Marymount Academy in Tacoma; Assumption School and Holy Rosary School in Seattle; St. Paul School, Yakima; St. Mary's School, Centralia; and Assumption School, Bellingham where she was a teacher in her early years and later returned to serve as principal. She received her BA in Education from St. Martin's College, Olympia, and her MA in Educational Administration from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma. Sister Esther also completed the S.A.L.T. program at Seattle University. Following her retirement from the classroom, she served as Community Archivist, assisted with the Tacoma Dominican Fundraising Program, and frequently was a substitute teacher and/or principal at St. Patrick's in Tacoma. For the last 12 years she had lived at Tahoma Vista Village, a low-income complex for seniors. She was an active part of that community and participated in their various programs and enjoyed socializing with her neighbors. Sister Esther's health began to fail in early summer 2018. She spent some time at Tacoma Lutheran Home in Tacoma before moving to St. Joseph Residence in Seattle the week before Christmas. Sister Esther was predeceased by her parents William and Annie, brothers Rodger, Patrick, Father John, Michael and William and sister Margaret Higgins. She is survived by her sister, Sister Anna Aherne, OSF of Philadelphia and by numerous nieces and nephews. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Patrick Church in Tacoma (1001 N. J St.) at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 29, Viewing will be in the Church Narthex beginning at 10:30 AM. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Tacoma, on Wednesday, January 30 at 1:00 PM Memorial donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund at 935 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home