After a long life of service to God and others, Sister Patricia Zins, CSJ passed away on November 3, 2009. She will be remembered by her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, her students and the women she helped as an intake case manager at Catholic Charities’ Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women.

In 1953, Sister Patricia received her BA and general elementary credential from Mount St. Mary’s College. Her early work focused on education, first at the elementary school level as a teacher and administrator and later at the college level as Director of Residence and Registrar at Mount St. Mary’s. Then, her life changed course.

“I had always wanted to work with the poor,” Sister Patricia said of her move to Good Shepherd Center in 1992, “My heart really wanted to go there. I began to volunteer sometimes on Sundays.” Eventually, she began working at the center full-time.

At Good Shepherd Center, Sister Patricia was known for her humor and positive outlook.  “The homeless women whom she served loved her,” commented Sr. Julia Mary Farley, Good Shepherd Center Director, “some still come and ask for her.”

Sister Patricia helped women between the ages of 45 and 60 who came to Good Shepherd experiencing homelessness. With gentleness and her signature good humor, she encouraged her clients to get jobs, go back to school and take the necessary steps to start new lives.

As she approached her work at Good Shepherd Center, Sister Patricia was often heard asking “Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary?” She sought to live a life of compassion and justice and Catholic Charities is grateful for her service. At Good Shepherd Center, Sister Patricia was true, kind, and, certainly, necessary.