Deaths in the Notre Dame Family

Sister Aileen Donohue
1926 - 2011



A dedicated educator for 52 years, Sr. Aileen served as teacher and administrator for Notre Dame elementary and high schools including those in Alameda and Marysville and at Holy Family School in Honolulu. While teaching English at Notre Dame High School, San Jose, she also enjoyed directing many memorable theatre productions. For 11 years Sister was principal at Sacred Heart School, Saratoga, where parents praised her as always having the best interests of the students and parents at heart. Sr. Aileen later volunteered at Notre Dame Elementary School and at the Province Center in Belmont, where she resided until moving to Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland in 2009.

Donor & Alumna,
Mary Birmingham Emery, 2011

Alumna Mary Emery (NDSJ '51) joined our Sisters of Notre Dame Development Board in 1987 and contributed her time, energy, strong personality, sense of humor and support. But Mary's primary commitment was always the Santa Clara Law School. She served as Director of the Law Library right after graduating from law school there, and became Associate Dean in 1986. Mary's death in August 2011 was a shock to everyone--much too young and too vibrant.

Sister Rose Franci
1917 - 2011



Noted for her gentle smile and kind ways, Sr. Rose Franci began teaching third graders in 1938 at Notre Dame School in San Francisco. A graduate of Salinas High School and College of Notre Dame, Sr. Rose taught and administered at Notre Dame schools in California and Washington for almost 50 years. Learn more about Sr. Rose.

Donor, Muriel Gilson
1918 - 2011



How did she do it?! Muriel and her husband, Berkeley, raised seven boys and four girls, including one foster son. It was obvious from tributes offered at her Memorial Mass that she and Berk had created a happy family that still cares for one another and for others. Years after her husband died, Muriel continued her long-time support of the Sisters in memory of Berk’s sister, Sister Mary Irene Gilson, SND.


Sister Paula Butier
1927 - 2011



Just shy of her 84th birthday, Sister Paula (Catherine Dolores) Butier, SND, passed away in Oakland on April 20, 2011. A Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 63 years, Sr. Paula was warmly regarded as a commanding and loving presence not only within the Sisters of Notre Dame community but in Bay Area Catholic education as well. A natural leader and gifted administrator, Sr. Paula led Notre Dame high schools for 40 years, overseeing four generations of Bay Area students. Read more about Sr. Paula's legacy to thousands of young women."


Donor & Alumna, Sylvia C. Castle
1924 - 2011

Sylvia never forgot the Sisters who helped her learn English in the second grade and who taught her at Notre Dame High School in San Jose. She later became the first Mothers' Club president at St. Joseph Elementary School. In more recent times, Sylvia enjoyed being part of "The Lunch Bunch" with Sr. Mary Emmanuel Donnelly, SND, at St. William Parish in Los Altos. Her son, Al, spoke at her memorial of the "loving detail to everything she did." The Sisters are grateful to Sylvia for her generosity in creating a Charitable Lead Trust for them.

Ideas for next steps:

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, California Province
http://www.snddenca.org/staticpages/index.php/Deaths