Legendary First Grade Teacher and South Boston Native Sister Evelyn Hurley passed away at 109 years old

If you grew up in South Boston, you may have had Sister Evelyn as a first-grade teacher at St. Brigid School (now South Boston Catholic Academy). She taught for decades and eventually retired to Kentucky a few years back. (She taught yours truly back in the 70s.)  

On Wednesday, Michael Flaherty, former student, Southie native, and friend of CIS, let us know that Sister Evelyn had passed away at the age of 109 years old.

“What an amazing, prayerful, thoughtful, and inspiring woman.  And what an awesome run she had with God in her heart and mind everyday,” said Flaherty.

According to Nazareth.org, Hurley was the second-oldest religious sister in the United States at 109 years old. She was the oldest of five children born to Boston City Councilor William Francis Hurley.  She grew up in South Boston in a home without electricity.

She attended high school at St. Brigid’s, back then it was known as Nazareth Academy. After graduating from Nazareth in 1932, she joined the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, making her final decision three weeks before she moved to their home in Kentucky.

She became a Catholic school teacher in 1934, teaching in Kentucky and Mississippi before returning to South Boston in 1950, where she taught generations of children.

She retired from teaching in 1995 at age 80 and lived at the St. Brigid Convent before moving back to Kentucky in 2014 at age 99.  You can read her obituary here. 

One of our favorite photos of Sr. Evelyn was captured by legendary Boston photographer Bill Brett back in 2014 and appears in his fifth book, Boston Irish.  Sr. Evelyn hand-made this beautiful outfit!

Rest in Peace, Sister Evelyn.  You will be missed. Thank you for teaching me how to read and write. 

 

11 Comments

  1. judith kardoos October 16, 2024 at 3:57 pm - Reply

    She was a real live Saint! My first grade teacher. She is always remembered me as the dark haired triplet! She remembered my Dad who drew pictures for her room as he was an artist! God Bless you Sister Alice William. May you rest with Jesus and his mother Mary!

  2. Joseph Patrick O'Malley October 16, 2024 at 4:06 pm - Reply

    May her memory forever be a blessing.

  3. Linda O'Connell Lynch October 17, 2024 at 2:57 pm - Reply

    She was a wonderful, gentle, intelligent woman. May she rest on the wings of the Angels.

  4. Mary Joyce-Morris October 17, 2024 at 3:29 pm - Reply

    What an extraordinary gift to so many.
    RIP.🙏⭐️

  5. Nina Hayes October 17, 2024 at 4:12 pm - Reply

    Sister Alice William, SCN, grew up with my Fitzgerald aunts and uncles. She was first grade teacher to all my girlfriends that I graduated with from the last class of Nazareth. She was still Sr. Alice William when she taught my siblings. Her name changed and her habit became more modern, but she was still the devoted educator for my three children as Sr. Evelyn. A dear friend to my parents, Jake and Jenna, and an inspiration to me for many years, I will miss her tremendously. God bless and rest in peace.

  6. Marc Bergeron October 17, 2024 at 8:20 pm - Reply

    Such a beautiful tribute to a clearly endearing, selfless and caring soul. An exemplar of a prayerful and caring life. Thank you for sharing this.

  7. Christopher October 18, 2024 at 1:06 am - Reply

    Hi ….can we get an update on where the funeral will take place on the 24 th? Thanks

  8. Judy Egan October 18, 2024 at 3:55 pm - Reply

    Sister Alice Williams was my 1st grade teacher,back in the 50’s. She was a very loving & Caring Nun The best I have ever known and shocked me 30 years later when she remembered my name. She was one of a kind. Rest in peace Sister

  9. Maureen October 22, 2024 at 7:38 am - Reply

    Sister Alice William was my first grade teacher in 1960. She came to my mother’s wake in 2001 & remembered my family. She was one of a kind. RIP Sister!

  10. Dan Hickey October 22, 2024 at 10:26 am - Reply

    Sister, was my 1st grade teacher at Nazareth, I saw her occasionally as I attended school thru the 8th grade. 40 years later as I was walking thru the hall at Tufts Medical Center we saw each other and said hello. I was amazed as she remembered my name and then she asked about my brother and mother. I ended up driving her back to the convent on N St and chatting along the way. What a remarkable woman. Rest in Peace Sister Alice.

  11. Robert Morris October 23, 2024 at 9:58 pm - Reply

    I remember her well, especially the whack across my left ear up at church when I genuflected on my left leg. I never did that again.

    Some 40 years later, she taught my daughter in the first grade, without any incident☘️☘️

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