Funeral Arrangements Set for Sister Jerome Corcoran
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A mass of Christian burial will be held June 11 at 4 p.m. at St. Michael Parish, Canfield, for Sister Jerome Corcoran, a long-time educator and advocate for the poor who died Sunday at the age of 105.
Irene M. Corcoran was born on April 21, 1916 in Chicago, the daughter of Austin J. and Rose McDonnell Corcoran, who were immigrants from Ireland. Her family moved to Youngstown in 1923. She entered the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown on February 22, 1935 and made her perpetual profession on August 24, 1940.
She was educated at St. Columba Elementary School and was a 1934 graduate of Ursuline High School. She attended St. John College, Cleveland, and earned a B.. in English from Sisters College at the Catholic University of America in 1942. She went on to earn an M.A. in English from Catholic University and a Ph. D. in education in 1952 from Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
In over 78 years of active ministry, Sister Jerome held a variety of roles. She taught at St. Columba, St. Nicholas in Struthers, St. Rose in Girard, and Ursuline High School in Youngstown. In addition, she taught various courses at Youngstown State University, The Catholic University of America, the University of Dayton, and Marquette University. She served as a supervisor of education for the Diocese of Youngstown from 1953-1972. In 1961 she published The Catholic Elementary Principal, which was used widely across the country.
She also served on the Leadership Team of the Ursuline Sisters from 1960-1972. During those years Sister Jerome helped plan the construction of the Ursuline Motherhouse in Canfield and pay off the mortgage.
Beginning in 1967, Sister Jerome conducted GED classes in Youngstown, enabling people to earn a high school diploma. In 1976, she began the Millcreek Children’s Center for preschool education in the city, and in 1993, opened a new facility on Market Street. In 1998, Sister Jerome, along with Sister Mary Dunn and the Board of Developing Potential, Inc. began a charter school, Youngstown Community School. Sister Jerome retired from Millcreek Children’s Center in 2012.
Sister Jerome was active in educational and civic causes, including Leadership Mahoning Valley, NAACP, and was a judge for the Youngstown Vindicator Spelling Bee for over 20 years.
Sister Jerome received numerous awards over the years, including the Sargent Shriver Anti-Poverty Remedial Reading Award, B’nai B’rith Woman of the Year, Mahoning County Bar Association Annual Award, AOH Woman of the Year, Ursuline High School Alumna of the Year, Salvation Army Others Award, the Rotary Club Paul Harris Award, Ohio Pioneer in Education Award, and the Chamber of Conference William G. Lyden Spirit of the Valley Award. The Diocese of Youngstown awarded her Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Honors. In 2016, at the age of 100, Sister Jerome was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.
Sister Jerome leaves her Sisters in community and numerous cousins and close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Joseph.
Calling hours will be on Thursday, June 10 at the Ursuline Motherhouse, 4250 Shields Rd., Canfield, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Those who plan to come to the calling hours at the Motherhouse must wear a facemask and show proof of vaccination. Calling hours will also precede the funeral at St. Michael Parish, from 2 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. Private interment services will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
