Born Jan. 6, 1888, in Owensboro, Ky., Ora Angela was one of eight children born to Robert and Ellen Harl Dougherty. She attended elementary school in Owensboro. For high school, she came to Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Ora Angela entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph on July 10, 1910. On August 30, 1910, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary Helen.
Sister Mary Helen’s teaching apostolate began with the primary grades at St. Paul School in Louisville. During her 52 years of instructing students throughout Kentucky, she taught at: Knottsville, St. Mary, Jeffersontown, Louisville (St. Columba and St. James) Rome, Sorgho, Lebanon (St. Charles), Browns Valley, Stanley, Waverly, Paducah (St. Thomas More), and Owensboro (St. Joseph). Sister’s only out-of-state assignment was to Wynot, Neb. Sister Mary Helen thoroughly enjoyed her classes and was well‑liked as a teacher. Often she would spend Saturdays visiting museums and other educational facilities to enrich her teaching.
Sister Mary Helen retired in 1964 and returned to Mount Saint Joseph. She relished the time for quiet prayer and reading. Her thirst for knowledge was never quenched. She devoured books and current literature. On March 19, 1972, Sister Mary Helen suffered a severe stroke. She died the following day at Mercy Hospital in Owensboro. On March 22, Father Bernard Powers, chaplain, celebrated her funeral Mass and delivered the homily. Six other priests were present in the sanctuary. Her remains are buried in the convent cemetery.