Raphaelle "Kaye" Cherry, RSCJ

Birth: October 11, 1935
Profession: July 20, 1967
Death: May 31, 2024

Religious of the Sacred Heart, Raphaelle “Kaye” Elizabeth Cherry died on May 31, 2024, in Atherton, California. She was 88 years old and a religious for 64 years. Raphaelle, known as “Kaye” was born on October 11, 1935, in New York City, to James R. Cherry and Kathryn Johnston Cherry. She was one of two children, growing up with a brother. Kaye graduated in 1953 from Sacred Heart Greenwich. She went on to Manhattanville College earning degrees in English, a B.A in 1957 and an M.A in 1966. She also did post-graduate work at Oxford University in England, Boston College, SUNY Albany, and the University of Massachusetts.

Kaye entered the Society of the Sacred Heart at Kenwood in 1959 and pronounced her first vows in 1962. After her first vows, Sister Cherry taught at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Rochester (1963-1967). She went to probation in Rome in 1967 to prepare for her final vows, which she made on July 20, 1967. Upon her return from Rome, she taught religion and English for one year at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, followed by a year at Kenwood, where she again taught English (1968-1969). 

Sister Cherry returned to Bloomfield Hills in 1969 for the next eleven years where she taught English and was chair of the English Department (1974-1977).  During her time at Bloomfield, she encouraged the students to become acquainted with literature by African-American writers. In 1980, she went to Sacred Heart Greenwich and remained there for the next thirty-three years where she taught English in the upper school and fulfilled several roles including department chair, academic advisor, and senior class moderator (1980-1992). Sister Cherry was honored as an outstanding alumna in 2013 at the reunion luncheon. The news of her retirement the following month was bittersweet; as the head of school recounted, “She has been an inspiration and model for all as a woman of great faith.” She went on to say that “Sister Cherry broadened the English curriculum at Greenwich by introducing books by African-American writers and inviting African-Americans as guest lecturers. She encouraged her students to become critical thinkers, gaining understanding for the concerns of society through literature.” 

When she retired in 2014, Sister Cherry moved to the Oakwood Retirement Center in Atherton, California, where she was a much-loved member of the community. In 2023, because of declining health, she was placed on hospice. Her long journey ended quietly when she peacefully went to God on May 31, 2024. Sister Cherry is survived by her brother, sister-in-law, and her niece.

A celebration of life liturgy will be held for Sister Cherry on July 17, 2024, at 10:00 am in the Oakwood Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made in Sister Cherry’s memory to the Society of the Sacred Heart, P.O. Box 958047, St. Louis, MO 63195-8047, or online at https://rscj.org/donate.