Sr. Agnes Philomena Conlon

Sister Agnes Conlon (Mary Clementia) died peacefully January 5, 2022, at St. Joseph Residence in Seattle. She was a native of Riverstown, County Sligo, Ireland, emigrating to the United States in 1951. Sister Agnes was one of 13 children born to Michael and Bridget Conlon.

Before meeting the Tacoma Dominican Sisters, Sister Agnes dreamed of becoming a Dominican Missionary in Africa. This changed the trajectory of her life, and she entered the postulate in Crosshaven, Ireland in 1951 and traveled with her companions to Mount St. Dominic in 1951.She made her final profession in 1956.  She received her BA in education at St. Martin’s [College] in Olympia.

For 39 years, she taught in schools in Washington and in California. Holy Rosary, West Seattle; St. Patrick, Tacoma; Our Lady of the Lake, Seattle; St. Paul, Yakima; St. Mary, Centralia; St. Francis, Bakersfield; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bakersfield; St. Ann, Ridgecrest; St. La Salle, Reedley; St. Aloysius, Tulare; and Thomas McCarthy Catholic School, Hanford. Following her retirement from classroom teaching, she worked with Sister Phyllis at the Cheerful Corner Day Care. Following that she enjoyed a sabbatical year in Little Falls, Minnesota. Returning from her sabbatical, she became a home health worker through Catholic Community Services.

She officially retired in 2007 and moved to St. Joseph Residence in January 2009.

Sister Agnes was a creative teacher always looking for new ways for the little ones to learn.  In her later years, she enjoyed painting and jewelry making.  Sister Agnes was very social.  She loved visiting and being visited.  Before her Parkinson’s made it impossible for her to venture out on her own, she enjoyed walking over to Mt. St. Vincent to visit the residents and enjoy the classes offered there.

In addition to her religious community, Sister Agnes is survived by Vera and Rita and families in Ireland; Joseph and family in Australia; Tony, Joan, Marcella and Raymond and families in New York. - She has many nieces and nephews in Ireland and in New York. She was predeceased by her parents, and siblings Sean, Mai and Della O’ Reilly from a previous marriage and Bernard and Gussie Conlon.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, January 25 at 10:30 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Burien.  Inurnment will take place later at Calvary Cemetery, Tacoma. Attendance will be limited to community and family. Memorial donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund at 935 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402.