Sister Regina Whalen was born in Dorchester, Mass., one of five children of parents Richard and Mary (Sheehan) Whalen. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1950, taking the name Sister Mary Richard.
Sister Regina earned a bachelor's degree in history and English from Emmanuel College, a master's of education degree in guidance and child psychology from Boston College, a master's in sacred science/theology from St. Bonaventure College, and a master's in Spirituality from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology.