Little Company of Mary Mourns Loss of Sisters Killed In 95th Street Crash

Caption: Sr. Jean Stickney, and Sr. Anna Kim, 48, of the Little Company of Mary Congregation. Both sisters were killed in an 11-vehicle crash at 95th Street and Cicero Avenue while returning home from an afternoon of shopping on Sunday.

Little Company of Mary Hospital spent most of Monday in shock at the sudden deaths of two nuns who were killed in the multi-vehicle crash at 95th and Cicero late Sunday afternoon.

Sr. Jean Stickney, 86, and Sr. Anna Kim, 48, were on their way home to Evergreen Park after an afternoon of shopping when their car was struck head on by an elderly driver who reportedly accelerated into the eastbound lane of traffic across Cicero Avenue as the sisters sat waiting at a red light.

The collision involved 11 cars and injured 23. Both nuns, along with the elderly driver, were pronounced dead at the scene.

A third passenger in the sister’s car — Sister Sharon Ann Walsh — survived the crash and is in stable condition, the Evergreen Park hospital said in a press statement. All three nuns belonged to to the Little Company of Mary religious order.

“We are heartbroken over here at Little Company of Mary,” hospital spokeswoman Kelly Cusack said.

Dennis Reilly, president and CEO for Little Company of Mary Hospital, called the sisters’ deaths a “tremendous loss for our community.”

“They were compassionate women who devoted their lives to caring for others,” Reilly said. “We continued to pray for all involved in yesterday’s accident. On behalf of the board of directors, physicians, administration and employees, we send our deepest sympathies and condolences to Sr. Jean and Sr. Anna’s families.”

Cusack said Sr. Jean was a prolific writer and served on the hospital’s board of directors, as well as numerous committees.

“She had a very compassionate way about her,” Cusack said.

Sr. Jean was born in Nashua, NH, on June 18, 1928. She joined the Sisters of Little Company of Mary in 1951, an international congregation founded by Venerable Mary Potter in 1877 in Nottingham, England.

In addition to Evergreen Park, the hospital said Sr. Jean’s past ministries included Cambridge, MA; Torrance, CA; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Colleagues and sisters recalled her as a talented storyteller.

The religious order’s website listed Sr. Jean as Little Company of Mary’s information director. There is also a section dedicated to the 86-year-old nun’s writings. She was known among staff for her gift of storytelling, her warmth and engaging smile.

Sr. Kab Kyoung Kim, known as Sr. Anna Kim to her friends in the United States, was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1966. She was a member of the Little Company of Mary Sisters in the Korean Province.

Sr. Anna Kim was visiting the American Province in Evergreen Park. She had spent the last two-and-a-half years in the United States pursuing her studies as well as gaining an understanding of the LCM ministries in the United States, Cusack said.

Sr. Anna Kim had been assisting with Little Company of Mary’s comprehensive bereavement services for children called “The Heart Connection.”

Sr. Anna Kim was recalled Monday for her warm and gentle personality and artistic talent, who greeted everyone with a smile.

“The entire Little Company of Mary Hospital family is heartbroken over the loss of these two special women. Although they will be greatly missed, they will never be forgotten,” the hospital said in a written statement.

This has been a tough year for the Little Company of Mary Sisters, who lost their provincial leader and chair of the hospital’s board of directors, Sr. Kathleen McIntyre, in April.

Arrangements are pending. Tribute gifts in the sisters’ memory may directed to the LCMH Foundation to support the continuing tradition of professional, responsible, compassionate, and quality care of the Catholic healthcare ministry. More information can be found on Little Company of Mary Hospital’s website or by calling 708-229-5067.

» READ: 2 Nuns Among the Dead in 95th Street Car Crash