1928
Kathleen
2017
Kathleen Dineen
January 27, 1928 — June 28, 2017
Dineen, Kathleen G. (Sister Mariam Jude) was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on Jan. 27, 1928 to John J. and Alice Quillan Dineen. She died peacefully on June 28, 2017 in Benedictine Care Center Innsbruck, New Brighton with her loving niece, Mary Ellen Mahan, at her side.
Upon graduating from high school, Kathleen attended Boston College in 1945 and entered the Sisters of Maryknoll Mission in 1946. She earned her nursing diploma from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. Devoted to a life of service, Kathleen was called to serve women and families around the world. Certified as a midwife in 1955 at Ceylon Medical College, in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), she guided many newborns into this world. In 1959 she was sent to Maryknoll College in Manila, Philippines were she continued her work as the Hospital Administrator and Director of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Negros, Philippines. She also worked as a nurse-coordinator of the medical team serving tribal people (PANAMIN) in the Philippines. While there, she completed her BSN from the University of the Philippines in 1968. Her next assignments took her to the San Jacinto Valley, Peru. She returned to the U.S. to attend the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and received her Master’s of Science in Nursing in 1972. She left for Cochabamba, Bolivia in 1972 where she also perfected her Spanish. In addition Kathleen was the nurse educator-consultant with Project Hope in Trujillo, Peru from 1972 to 1973.
From 1973 to 1975, she held the position of Assistant Professor & Coordinator of the Graduate Program/Maternal-Infant Health Nursing at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 1975 she was offered the Assistant Professor position in the Graduate Program in Nursing at Texas Women’s University.
In 1976 she was recruited to join the U of MN School of Nursing as the Director of the Nurse-Midwifery Education Program. In this position, Kathleen secured national accreditation for the program, NIH training grants to grow the program and funding for students. She successfully guided 200 some nurses into midwifery over the 17 years as Director. She earned the respect of the medical and nursing community due to her diligent work, keen sense of humor, unassuming demeanor, and unflagging belief in the practice of nurse-midwifery.
Kathleen completed her PhD in Educational Administration at the U of MN in 1985. Upon retirement in 1993 she was honored as an Emeritus Faculty.
Kathleen met her life long friend, Elaine Mansfield at Catholic University. They loved to travel the world together, enjoyed talking politics, books, and “how to grow your investments”! Their home in Fridley on the banks of the Mississippi River was a source of comfort and joy. They were often seen walking in the neighborhood after they had retired. Neighbors, young and old, loved them.
A special thank you is extended to the nurses, nursing assistants, activity staff, kitchen staff and volunteers at Benedictine Care Center at Innsbruck. We have enormous gratitude for the spiritual guidance and comfort freely given to Kathleen by Fran O’Connor. You each brought your unique selves to Kathleen. You gave her purpose and love every day.
Her life long friend Elaine Mansfield, two sisters Alice J. Tarbox, Mary L. Mahan and brother John J. Dineen, preceased Kathleen. She leaves behind her loving niece Mary Ellen Mahan, devoted friend Mary Rossi, many nieces and nephews, friends, attentive neighbors and extended family.
A celebration of life will be held on a date to be determined in Sept. Details will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Kathleen Dineen Scholarship Fund at the U of MN School of Nursing.
Upon graduating from high school, Kathleen attended Boston College in 1945 and entered the Sisters of Maryknoll Mission in 1946. She earned her nursing diploma from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. Devoted to a life of service, Kathleen was called to serve women and families around the world. Certified as a midwife in 1955 at Ceylon Medical College, in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), she guided many newborns into this world. In 1959 she was sent to Maryknoll College in Manila, Philippines were she continued her work as the Hospital Administrator and Director of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Negros, Philippines. She also worked as a nurse-coordinator of the medical team serving tribal people (PANAMIN) in the Philippines. While there, she completed her BSN from the University of the Philippines in 1968. Her next assignments took her to the San Jacinto Valley, Peru. She returned to the U.S. to attend the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and received her Master’s of Science in Nursing in 1972. She left for Cochabamba, Bolivia in 1972 where she also perfected her Spanish. In addition Kathleen was the nurse educator-consultant with Project Hope in Trujillo, Peru from 1972 to 1973.
From 1973 to 1975, she held the position of Assistant Professor & Coordinator of the Graduate Program/Maternal-Infant Health Nursing at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 1975 she was offered the Assistant Professor position in the Graduate Program in Nursing at Texas Women’s University.
In 1976 she was recruited to join the U of MN School of Nursing as the Director of the Nurse-Midwifery Education Program. In this position, Kathleen secured national accreditation for the program, NIH training grants to grow the program and funding for students. She successfully guided 200 some nurses into midwifery over the 17 years as Director. She earned the respect of the medical and nursing community due to her diligent work, keen sense of humor, unassuming demeanor, and unflagging belief in the practice of nurse-midwifery.
Kathleen completed her PhD in Educational Administration at the U of MN in 1985. Upon retirement in 1993 she was honored as an Emeritus Faculty.
Kathleen met her life long friend, Elaine Mansfield at Catholic University. They loved to travel the world together, enjoyed talking politics, books, and “how to grow your investments”! Their home in Fridley on the banks of the Mississippi River was a source of comfort and joy. They were often seen walking in the neighborhood after they had retired. Neighbors, young and old, loved them.
A special thank you is extended to the nurses, nursing assistants, activity staff, kitchen staff and volunteers at Benedictine Care Center at Innsbruck. We have enormous gratitude for the spiritual guidance and comfort freely given to Kathleen by Fran O’Connor. You each brought your unique selves to Kathleen. You gave her purpose and love every day.
Her life long friend Elaine Mansfield, two sisters Alice J. Tarbox, Mary L. Mahan and brother John J. Dineen, preceased Kathleen. She leaves behind her loving niece Mary Ellen Mahan, devoted friend Mary Rossi, many nieces and nephews, friends, attentive neighbors and extended family.
A celebration of life will be held on a date to be determined in Sept. Details will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Kathleen Dineen Scholarship Fund at the U of MN School of Nursing.
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