January 25, 1946 — July 24, 2024
Sister Mary Brendan Bogdan, 78, died in Mother of Good Counsel Convent, Chicago, Illinois, after 60 years in religious life.
Sister Mary Brendan was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on January 25, 1946. She was the eldest of two girls born to Walter and Virginia Bogdan. At her Baptism in St. Fidelis Church in Oak Park, Illinois, on August 15, 1946, she was given the name Patricia. She attended St. James Elementary School and Good Counsel High School in Chicago, Illinois.
Patricia entered the postulancy of the Felician Sisters on September 6, 1964. The following year, she was given the religious name of Sister Mary Brendan at her Investiture on August 3, 1965. Her Final Profession took place on August 5, 1972.
Sister Mary Brendan received her bachelor’s degree in 1973 and a master’s degree in 1978 in education from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. Her first teaching assignment was at Sts. Peter and Paul in Chicago, Illinois, from 1967-1977. From there, she went to St. Isidore in Blue Island, Illinois, and ministered as principal from 1977-1981. She also served as principal at St. Linus in Oak Lawn, Illinois, for twelve years.
Sister Mary Brendan was elected to serve on the Provincial Council, from 1993-1999 as Provincial Vicar and was reelected from 1999-2005 and served as Provincial Secretary. In 2005, she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was the Administrator of the Child Development Center of St. Joseph. She had many important roles while in Milwaukee, including being a key instrument in the transition of the Child Development Center of St. Joseph on 18th Street to St. Joseph Academy on Oklahoma Avenue.
She held positions in Mission Integration/Community Outreach, Corporate Responsibility/ Community Outreach, and that of Director of Mission Integration. In 2020, she retired from active ministry but remained at St. Joseph Academy as a volunteer. Sister Mary Brendan’s love of community and children really shined through all her ministries.
