Remembering Sister Mary Ellen Dean - Ursuline Sisters Mission

Sister Mary Ellen Dean, OSU, died Friday, May 27, 2022 at
St. Elizabeth Hospital, Boardman after a short illness. She was 85. Mary Ellen was born on June 16, 1936 in Youngstown, the only child of Anthony J. and Mary Grace Miller Dean. She attended Patrick and St. Ann Elementary Schools and graduated from Ursuline High School in 1954.

She entered the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown on September 12, 1954 and was received into the novitiate on August 10, 1955 when she received the religious name of Sister Suzanne. She made perpetual profession in 1960.

Sister Mary Ellen earned a BS in Education from Youngstown State University in 1959 and a MA in History and Government from Marquette University in 1963. She did additional post-graduate studies at Youngstown State University, Michigan State University, the University of South Carolina, as well as a Library Science program at Clarion University.

Sister Mary Ellen was active in ministry for 63 years. She began her career in Catholic school education
by teaching at St. Nicholas, Struthers, Holy Family, Poland, St. Patrick, Youngstown, St. Charles, Boardman, St. Joan of Arc, Canton, and St. Patrick, Leetonia.

In 1966 she was assigned to teach at Ursuline high School and began a long tenure there. At Ursuline she taught American History and Government. She served as the Registrar for two years and was Director of the Library for 29 years. In that capacity she oversaw the transition of Ursuline’s library services to a technology center. She retired from Ursuline in 2011.

After her teaching career at Ursuline Sister Mary Ellen helped with the SilverSneakers Program at the Ursuline Center, a position she held until 2020.

Sister Mary Ellen leaves her Sisters in community. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be at the Ursuline Motherhouse, 4250 Shields Rd., Canfield. Friends may call beginning at 10:30 am on Tuesday May 31. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:30 am. Please wear a mask if you come to the wake or funeral Mass.