Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Jeannine Dawson, whose missionary work made an impact throughout Virginia, died on Christmas day, Dec. 25, in Malvern, Pa. She was 95.
Despite her advanced age, her death due to heart failure was a surprise to friends who described her as in excellent health.
“She was very agile physically and mentally,” said Kathleen Anderson, director of development at St. James Church in Falls Church.
She was the first vocation in 1948 from Villa Maria Academy, the boarding school located in the IHM convent across the street from St. James School in Falls Church.
“St. James was really special to her. This was home and where her vocation was born. She just loved her time in Virginia and came back every summer to the convent,” said Anderson.
Following her mother’s death at the age of 5, Sister Jeannine was cared for as an orphan by Catholic Charities in Baltimore and eventually placed at Villa Maria Academy by her older sisters, where her love of Virginia and St. James Church was nurtured. “She was always so happy about being at St. James because of her rootedness here as a child,” said Sister Patricia Helene Earl, I.H.M. “Our sisters took such good care of her. Coming back to St. James was like coming home to her. She just loved the children and the people here.”
Sister Jeannine and the early IHM Sisters were at the vanguard of one of the most impressive evangelical movements in Virginia Catholic history, growing the faith throughout the Commonwealth. Sister Jeannine was mentored and cared for by the famous Mother Clotildis, who is considered the “Apostle of Virginia” by the IHM community for her work in evangelizing and catechizing most of Northern Virginia.
She was born Oct. 2, 1928, in Cumberland, Md. She worked at the Justice Department prior to beginning her postulancy. “She was such a valued employee that the government contacted her at the convent and tried to recruit her to pursue a career at the department,” said Anderson. But she had decided on her vocation and received her habit April 18, 1949, and made her final vows Aug. 15, 1954.
Sister Jeannine earned a bachelor’s of arts at Immaculata College with a focus on elementary education. She taught first, second and third grades from 1951 to 1998, including at St. James from 1998 to 2007. Her last teaching assignment was at St. Martin of Tours in Philadelphia, 2007-17. She spent her final years at Camilla Hall serving the sisters as needed.
Until her final days, she prayed two rosaries a day — one for her dozens of nieces, nephews and Godchildren and another for the IHM community and vocations.
“She was joyful, humble, gentle and had a very beautiful soul. When I was in her presence I was overwhelmed by her quiet, deep love for God and especially Our Lady,” said Anderson. “She told me that the Blessed Mother was really like her mother, especially because she lost her mother so young.”
Sister Jeannine was predeceased by her parents Robert Dawson and Mary Della (Troutman) Dawson; her sisters Edith Dean (Thomas) and Mary Cavanaugh (Michael); and is survived by her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A funeral Mass was offered Jan. 3 at the Camilla Hall Convent Home in Malvern, followed by private interment in the Immaculata Cemetery.
