Sister Eileen Diggins, PBVM

Sister Eileen Diggins entered eternal life on July 28, 2022. Born in 1924, Sister Eileen was a native San Franciscan and a Presentation Sister for 75 years. She had lengthy careers as both educator and administrator, beginning with teaching at the school she and her siblings had themselves attended, St. Anne.

Sister Eileen held a bachelor’s degree in education from Immaculate Heart College and a master’s degree in education from San Francisco State University. She went by her religious name, Sister Mary of St. James, prior to Vatican II.

In addition to St. Anne, she taught at the following schools: St. Agnes and Epiphany (San Francisco), St. Christopher (San Jose); was principal at St. Joseph (Berkeley); and taught at St. Columba (Oakland), Sts. Peter and Paul (San Francisco, Salesian), and St. Mary Magdalen (Los Angeles). In 1951 she was missioned with other Sisters to Pecos, New Mexico to open St. Anthony school, where she taught and served as principal for eight years.

In 1962 Sister Eileen began a term as Superior at Presentation Center, Los Gatos, location of the Presentation novitiate. She described this as an exciting time, with the novices’ enthusiasm and the challenges of a rural location. She eventually spent many years working or volunteering at Presentation Center, as well as in administration of the Motherhouse in San Francisco and service to the congregation as a Councilor. Given the opportunity to return to Presentation Center in 1998, she was delighted and felt as if she never left. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Katherine Diggins; her sister, Sister Mary Diggins, MM, and brothers, John Diggins and James Diggins. She is survived by nieces, a nephew, and an extended family.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 6 at 11:00 am at the Sisters of the Presentation Motherhouse, 2340 Turk Blvd., San Francisco, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma. Visitors must be current on Covid vaccinations and have either a negative PCR within 48 hours or a negative Antigen/Rapid test within 24 hours prior to arrival. Masking (LM95/K) is required.

Memorial contributions to the Sisters of the Presentation are preferred and can be sent to Sisters of the Presentation, Mission Advancement Office, 281 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118 in memory of Sister Eileen Diggins.