Eleanor “Mary Alfred” Clancy

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Sister Eleanor Clancy, SNDdeN was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, to Alfred and Mary (Shaughnessy) Clancy, the youngest of five. She followed in the footsteps of her sister, the late Sister Mary Clancy, SNDdeN.

She joined the SNDdeN in 1957, took her first vows in 1960 and final vows in 1965. She took the religious name of Sister Mary Alfred, in honor of her parents.

She earned her bachelor’s in history and education from Emmanuel College and her master’s in early childhood from Lesley College.

For 50 years, she mostly taught first grade, “and loved every minute of it.” She taught at St. James in Salem, St. Michael in Hudson, St. Mary in Lawrence, St. Mark and St. Ambrose in Dorchester, St. John in Peabody, St. Augustine in South Boston, and South Boston Catholic, and for her last 23 years as a teacher at Gate of Heaven in Boston.

She volunteered for 10 years at Julie’s Family Learning Program in South Boston and currently volunteers in the office of St. Joseph’s Church in the West End.

“My motto is to stay active and independent, as much as I can.”