Sister Mary Nicholas

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Holy Cross Sister Mary Nicholas (Rose Margaret Gough) died Sept. 13.

Sr. Mary Nicholas was born Dec. 9, 1912, in Dayton, Ohio, to Nicholas J. and Mary Gertrude Byrne Gough. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1931, and made her final profession in 1937. Sr. Mary Nicholas began as an elementary teacher, and in 1937, studied nursing at Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. After graduation she was made night supervisor at Mount Carmel. She attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and received a Bachelor of Science decree in Nursing Education. She returned to Mount Carmel as an assistant director and instructor in the school of nursing.

In 1956, she was made director of Holy Cross School of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital in South Bend, Ind., in 1963, the same position she held at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City. She became an instructor in the school of nursing, and following post-masters study at Dunbarton College, Washington, D.C., she was made director of in-service education at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Md. In 1967, she was an associate professor at Penn State University, Pittsburgh; and in 1969, associate professor, Catholic University, Washington, D.C. She returned to Mount Carmel Hospital as research consultant, nursing service until she retired in 1984. She remained active in community service until her death.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint, Mary’s, Notre Dame, Ind.