Community Mourns Sister Diane Kennedy, OP, '55
The university community is mourning the loss of Sr. Diane (Mary Alana) Kennedy, OP, 鈥55, Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, who passed away on March 30, 2025 at St. Dominic Villa in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.
Sr. Diane was in the 68th year of her profession of vows. She was Dominican University鈥檚 inaugural vice president for Mission and Ministry and founder of the St. Catherine of Siena Center, which examines critical issues of church and society in the light of faith and scholarship.
Sr. Diane also formerly served as vice president and academic dean of Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri, and was the Promoter of the Cause for canonization for Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, founder of the community of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa.
For over 50 years, Sr. Diane focused on a ministry of educating and animating communities in the Dominican Catholic intellectual tradition. Since 2014, the Sr. Diane Kennedy Lecture at Dominican University has been held each March, the month of Sr. Diane鈥檚 birthday. Each lecture supports the university鈥檚 mission by exploring a dimension of the Dominican tradition.
鈥淒iane had a gift of seeing the face of God in everyone and reflecting that back to us,鈥 said Dr. Rachel Hart Winter, current director of the St. Catherine of Siena Center. 鈥淗er love of God, community, prayer and contemplation was shared with each of us. Her commitment to good theological conversation and scholarship was such a joy to engage.鈥
Sr. Diane received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rosary College in 1955, a Master of Arts in English from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Arts in Theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkley, California.
In 1996, Sr. Diane was elected president of the Association of Theological Schools, an accreditation agency for schools of theology in the United States and Canada, and received the association's Distinguished Service Award in 2006. She participated in the association's Women in Leadership in Theological Education program, where she was a mentor to other female leaders.
Sr. Diane also served on the Dominican University Board of Trustees.
A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m. in Rosary Chapel, with visitation immediately prior. Final details will be shared at www.dom.edu/sr-kennedy.