Remembering Sister Julie (Julie St. William) McDonough (1933-2022)

On December 25, 2022, after 72 years of service to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Sister Julie McDonough passed away in Worcester, MA.

Sister Julie McDonough was born Marilyn McDonough, the daughter of William and Ethel (Quinlan) McDonough.

Growing up in Woburn, MA, Sister Julie met the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at her parish school. She loved the stories about St. Julie, and felt attracted to the Sisters.

After elementary school, Sister Julie went to a public high school in Wellesley, MA. Her love for the Sisters remained strong, and that led her—at the age of 17— to enter the convent at Waltham, MA.

Sister Julie earned her BA from Emmanuel College, and M.Ed. at Boston State Teachers College.

She taught in many schools in the greater Boston area, including St. Mary, Cambridge, St. Laurence, Lawrence, St. John, Peabody, Our Lady of the Angels, Worcester, St. Augustine, Lawrence, St. Charles, Woburn, Notre Dame Academy, Tyngsboro.

For more than 25 years, she also was Principal of St. John School in Wellesley .

Sister Julie was known for her deep devotion to St. Julie Billiart. By reaching out to others with kindness and generosity, Sister Julie worked hard throughout her life to carry out St. Julie's ideals. All her life she loved teaching young children.

Sister Julie is survived by her sister, Joyce; he brother-in-law Ken Nelson, and many nieces and nephews.


If you’d like to make a gift to the Sisters in Sister Julie's honor online, please click here or to give by mail or phone, please click here.