Sr. Elena Goulding

Sister Elena Goulding, OSF, 81, died in Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania, on April 7. Cause of death was cardiopulmonary collapse. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 63 years. Sister Elena (Bridget Philomena Goulding) was born in Knockanure, County Kerry, Ireland. She earned a B.A. in English from Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in Education from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She ministered primarily in education, prison ministry, and eldercare. In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, she taught at Immaculate Conception School, Towson; St. Stephen School, Bradshaw; Fr. Charles Hall Middle School, and St. Frances Academy and served as a prison chaplain at the Women's Detention Center. She also ministered in Delaware; Washington, DC; South Carolina; and Ireland. All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, Aston, Pennsylvania, 19014 on Tuesday, April 14. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Elena is survived by two sisters: Mary Clancy and Patricia Danaher; two brothers: Christy Goulding and Michael Goulding; her nieces and nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.