FALL RIVER, Mass. — Sister Virginia O’Hare (Sister Agnes William), S.U.S.C., died April 20 at the Jewish Home of Fall River. She was born in Fall River, the daughter of the late William and Mary (Sullivan) O’Hare. Sr Virginia would have celebrated her 95th birthday on May 4.
In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, her sister Angela Hopkins, her brother William and his wife Patricia, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews survive her. She was predeceased by her sisters Mary O’Hare and Eleanor Paquet.
Sister Virginia graduated from the Academy of the Sacred Hearts, Fall River. She entered the Holy Union Sisters on September 8, 1943 and pronounced her final vows on August 22, 1951. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and a Master of Arts Degree in European History from Villanova University.
Sister Virginia was among the first group of Holy Union Sisters who opened Sacred Heart School in Mount Ephraim, N.J. She taught junior high classes there for eight years and was remembered and well-loved by her former students, many of whom kept in contact with her over the years. Sister Virginia taught briefly at Immaculate Conception School, Astoria, N.Y. before returning to Sacred Heart as principal and superior of the Holy Union community. When her term was completed, she returned to Astoria as principal of Immaculate Conception School and community superior.
In 1967 she became principal of Bishop Cassidy High School in Taunton, Mass. In 1971 when the school merged with Bishop Coyle High School, she continued as principal of Coyle and Cassidy High School. In 1977 she became treasurer for the Fall River Province of the Holy Union Sisters, a position she held until 1996.
While serving as province treasurer, she took courses at Notre Dame University and was an active member of regional and national organizations of treasurers for women’s religious orders. She was assistant to the Financial Officer for the Fall River Diocese from 1998 to 2011 and continued to volunteer in the Finance Office until 2018. Sister Virginia celebrated her 75th anniversary as a Holy Union Sister in 2018. Within her Holy Union congregation, she attended international meetings of treasurers and was a delegate to General Chapters.
In 2016 Sister Virginia joined the Holy Union Sisters Community at The Landmark, Fall River. Ill health necessitated her recent move to the Jewish Home of Fall River.
Following directives of the Fall River Diocese, the rite of Committal with Final Commendation will be private. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date when restrictions for public gatherings have been lifted. Burial will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River, Mass. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home Fall River.
Donations in Sister Virginia’s memory may be made to Holy Union Sisters, Mission Advancement Office, P.O. Box 410, Milton, Mass. 02186.
