Mercy Sister Kathleen (Sheila Marie) Moriarty, 81, died died of pneumonia Aug. 20 at Mercy Circle.

Born in Chicago, she was the oldest of 10 children. She was taught by Sisters of Mercy at St. Joachim School and Mercy High School in Chicago. She entered the convent in 1954, at 18.

She began her ministry teaching first grade at schools in Chicago and Libertyville, as well as in other Illinois and Wisconsin communities.

She eventually served as principal at St. Joan of Arc, Skokie, and St. Joachim. She ministered the longest at Mother McAuley High School, where she taught math from 1978 to 1983. After being plagued with arthritis, she underwent a knuckle-replacement surgery. Because it became too hard to hold the chalk and teach, she earned a counseling degree. She ministered at Mother McAuley as a counselor for an additional 22 years, until 2006.