May 21, 2025

Sister John Helen Main, a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart, 86, died on Sunday, May 11, 2025, in the sixty-ninth year of her religious life.

Kathryn Anna Main was born June 15, 1938, in Ogdensburg, the daughter of John J. and Helen (Barr) Main. She attended Bishop Conroy School and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1956, entering the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart that same year. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education (1967) from D’Youville College, Buffalo, and received a master’s degree in elementary education (1977) from SUNY Potsdam.

Sister’s ministry as teacher began at St. Norbert in Paoli, Pennsylvania, for a year and then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she taught at for six years. For the next 45 years, she was missioned in her home state of New York in various locations and educational ministries. Her ministry in the Diocese of Ogdensburg scanned several decades. She taught in Potsdam at St. Mary’s School (1962-67 and 1980-81) and was director of the Potsdam/Akwesasne Talent Search from 1989-91. From 1971-1980, she taught at Bishop Conroy/Ogdensburg Catholic Central School; she was an Instructor at Mater Dei College in remedial /developmental education for three years. For 20 years, from 1992-2012 she was a pre-GED Teacher at the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility. Simultaneously, from 2000 to 2005, she served as director of the Peer Tutor program at Ogdensburg Free Academy. In December 2012, she moved to the Motherhouse in Yardley, Pennsylvania, then later to a Grey Nun community in the greater Philadelphia area, serving her senior sisters through visits and phone calls until shortly before her death.

She is predeceased by her parents and brother, Paul J. Main. In addition to her religious congregation, she is survived by her twin brother, Kermit A. Main, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 in the Redeemer Sisters’ Chapel, 521 Moredon Road, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. Sharing of memories will be at 10 a.m., and the Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Memorial donations may be made to the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, 928 Jaymor Rd., Suite C-120, Southampton, PA 18966 or at www.greynun.org

Arrangements by Beck Givnish Funeral Homes.