Ascended to Heaven
April 21, 2022
Sister Kathleen Boyd
Born in Beaverton, Oregon, on July 9, 1939, Kathleen Mae Boyd graduated from St. Cecilia Elementary School in 1953 and St. Mary of the Valley Academy in 1957. Entering the workforce on the cusp of the computer age, Sr. Kathleen worked in data management at the Portland Police Department, Tektronix, and Portland Data Entry Service Bureau. She furthered her expertise through the Tektronix education program.
In 1983, Sr. Kathleen entered the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. She professed final vows on August 15, 1990 and celebrated her 25th Jubilee in July 2008. Her ministry in the SSMO community focused on many business aspects of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon campus.
From 1985 to her retirement in 2005, Sr. Kathleen served in several business roles. She managed financial records for St. Mary of the Valley Music Department and Valley Catholic High School, served as the Motherhouse Insurance Officer, and ministered as receptionist at both the Motherhouse and Maryville Care Center.
From 1996 to 2000, Sr. Kathleen directed the upgrade of the SSMO Development Office Data Management program. Even with these professional accomplishments, Sr. Kathleen recalled the best year of her life as the time she served in the bakery of the SSMO Motherhouse.
As a skilled artist, Sr. Kathleen produced collections of art works. Combining watercolor or colored pencil with calligraphy, she created bookmarks and beautiful pieces to adorn the walls of the Motherhouse. Her great artistic talents were a source of joy for her SSMO Sisters. Through the years, her sharp mind produced successful solutions for her ever-ready puzzle books.
Sr. Kathleen filled every room she entered with humor. “Laughter is good for the soul,” she would say. Then she would add, “Laugh at yourself once in a while. God does – just look in a mirror!”
Her shared talents, compassion, prayer, service, and joy-filled presence radiated the charism of the SSMO Community, to be a compassionate joyful servant of the Lord.
Sister Kathleen passed away on April 21, 2022 and is missed, loved and survived by her Sisters in Community, her brother Mervyn, her sister-in-law Barbara Boyd, caregivers and nursing staff, and many dear friends. Her parents William and Veronica (Tatom) Boyd, her sister Germaine Woolsey, and her brothers Elmer, Donald, LeRoy and Bernard Boyd preceded Sr. Kathleen in death.
May Sister Kathleen rest in God’s loving embrace.
