Posted March 7, 2025

Sister Louise Quinn, OSF, (formerly Sister Mary Rita), 79, died in Bryn Mawr Hospital on March 6, 2025. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 58 years. Sister Louise was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish and a graduate of West Catholic High School.  She entered the congregation in 1964 and professed her first vows in 1967.  She earned a BA in history from Neumann University (then Our Lady of Angels College), an MA in theology from St. Charles Seminary, and an MA in counseling from Marywood University. She ministered primarily in education and pastoral ministry.

Sister Louise ministered for 44 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She began in education ministry teaching at Resurrection School, Chester; St. Stanislaus School, Lansdale; St. Mary of the Assumption School, Philadelphia; St. John Neumann School, Bryn Mawr; and St. Pius X High School, Pottstown.  She then shifted focus and served as counselor and administrator at St. Ann Parish in Phoenixville and St. Patrick Parish in Norristown. She also served as a pastoral assistant at Holy Trinity/Sacred Heart Parish in Phoenixville and St. Patrick Parish in Kennett Square. Sister Louise then served as director of parish services for Sacred Heart Church in Clifton Heights. For the past nine years, she has served as administrator of parish finances for St. Jerome Church in Philadelphia. In addition, she served as a part-time adjunct professor for the Department of Theology at Holy Family College and worked part-time as a marriage and family therapist at the Montgomery Counseling Center.

For 12 years, Sister Louise ministered in the Allentown Diocese as the diocesan parish outreach director and as a clinical supervisor and marriage and family therapist for Catholic Social Services. She also ministered as a pastoral therapist at St. Columbkill Parish in Boyertown and as director of the student assistance program in Berks County.

All services will be held in Our Lady of Angel Chapel in Aston, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, and will be livestreamed. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. The Internment of Ashes will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Louise is survived by her brothers, Richard [Jeri] and Joseph Quinn; her sisters, Lorraine Cox [Robert] and Sister Mary Virginia, IHM; her brother-in-law, Joseph Denney; her many nieces and nephews, and her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.