Individual Details

Johanna (Sr. Mary Ellen) CUNNINGHAM

(25 Nov 1895 - 13 Aug 1989)

Johanna's baptismal sponsors were Michael Stack and Mary Dore.

Johanna was also known as Hannie. She and her sister Maggie left Ireland in 1915 to join the Sisters of St. Joseph at Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, Kansas.

Ellis Island records (on www.ellisisland.org) show that the sisters arrived in New York on 12 September 1915 and were joining a "cousin", Bishop John Francis Cunningham, of Concordia, Kansas. Johanna and Maggie appear to have been first cousins twice removed of the bishop's (their grandfather Bryan Cunningham would have been a first cousin of his). Bishop Cunningham apparently encouraged several other Cunningham family members - along with Mulvihill and Fitzgerald relatives - to enter religious life in Kansas.

Sr. Mary Ellen was a nursing sister and worked in El Paso, Texas for a time before returning to Kansas to work in St. Anthony's Hospital in Concordia.

    Events

    Birth25 Nov 1895Kilbaha, Moyvane, Co. Kerry
    Christen27 Nov 1895Moyvane, Co. Kerry
    Death13 Aug 1989Concordia, Kansas

    Families

    FatherRichard (Richie Bryan) CUNNINGHAM (1852 - 1926)
    MotherBrigid (Brigie) DORE (1857 - 1916)
    SiblingMary (Molly) CUNNINGHAM (1893 - 1976)
    SiblingBryan (Brianeen) CUNNINGHAM (1894 - 1966)
    SiblingHanora (Nora) CUNNINGHAM (1896 - 1988)
    SiblingThomas CUNNINGHAM ( - )
    SiblingMargaret (Sr. Mary Estelle) CUNNINGHAM (1898 - 1987)
    SiblingEllen CUNNINGHAM (1898 - 1898)
    SiblingEileen CUNNINGHAM (1899 - 1988)
    SiblingJohn (Jack) CUNNINGHAM (1901 - 1995)
    SiblingBridget (Bridie) CUNNINGHAM (1904 - 1982)