Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Diane Kennedy, OP, 91, died March 30, 2025, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. The Mass of Resurrection celebrating her life will be held at Dominican University’s Rosary Chapel, River Forest, Ill., Sat., April 5 at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Charles Bouchard, OP, officiating. The Mass will be livestreamed at dom.zoom.us/j/94312348417. A visitation will also be held at Rosary Chapel Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of Mass. Interment will take place April 7 at St. Clara Cemetery, Sinsinawa, Wis. Miller Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
She was born March 16, 1934, to Malcolm and Catherine (O’Brien) Kennedy in Oak Park, Ill. She made profession with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1957 and received the religious name Sister Mary Alana. She earned her BA in English from Rosary College, River Forest, Ill.; an MA in English from the University of Notre Dame, Ind.; an MA in theology from Aquinas Institute of Theology, Dubuque, Ia.; and a D. Min. in ministry from Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, Calif.
Sister Diane’s ministry was dedicated to teaching, preaching, and administration. She taught at Edgewood High School, Madison, Wis., and then served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as director of initial formation. She later served as vicaress of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation; as executive director of the Parable Conference for Dominican Life and Mission; as director of ministry at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.; as academic dean at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Mo.; and served as associate provost and was the first vice president for mission and ministry at Dominican University. Sister Diane concluded her public ministry as promoter for the Cause of Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP.
Sister Diane was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, James; and a sister, Mary Patricia Donahue. She is survived by a sister, Jane (Tom) Gelinas; numerous nieces and nephews; many friends; and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 68 years. Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., 53824, or given online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate.