IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE
DECEASED SISTERS OF SAINT
JOSEPH – 2006-11
|
2011 |
|
|
Sister |
|
|
September 11, 2011 |
|
|
September 9, 2011 |
|
|
September 8, 2011 |
|
|
August 4, 2011 |
|
|
July 28, 2011 |
|
|
July 27, 2011 |
|
|
July 18, 2011 |
|
|
July 16, 2011 |
|
|
July 12, 2011 |
|
|
July 8, 2011 |
|
|
June 9, 2011 |
|
|
June 7, 2011 |
|
|
June 3, 2011 |
|
|
May 18, 2011 |
|
|
May 13, 2011 |
|
|
March 15, 2011 |
|
|
March 11, 2011 |
|
|
March 10, 2011 |
|
|
February 22, 2011 |
|
|
February 17, 2011 |
|
|
February 1, 2011 |
|
|
January 25, 2011 |
|
|
January 22, 2011 |
|
|
January 19, 2011 |
|
|
January 2, 2011 |
|
|
January 2, 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
December 30, 2010 |
|
|
December 27, 2010 |
|
|
December 24, 2011 |
|
|
November 24, 2010 |
|
|
October 29, 2010 |
|
|
October 29, 2010 |
|
|
October 5, 2010 |
|
|
September 14, 2010 |
|
|
September 14, 2010 |
|
|
August 28, 2010 |
|
|
August 15, 2010 |
|
|
August 8, 2010 |
|
|
July 29, 2010 |
|
|
June 27, 2010 |
|
|
June 23, 2010 |
|
|
April 29, 2010 |
|
|
April 18, 2010 |
|
|
February 24, 2010 |
|
|
February 8, 2010 |
|
|
January 25, 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
November 29, 2009 |
|
|
November 18, 2009 |
|
|
October 24, 2009 |
|
|
October 22, 2009 |
|
|
October 19, 2009 |
|
|
October 10, 2009 |
|
|
October 10, 2009 |
|
|
September 17, 2009 |
|
|
September 14, 2009 |
|
|
August 7, 2009 |
|
|
August 2, 2009 |
|
|
July 8, 2009 |
|
|
July 3, 2009 |
|
|
June 26, 2009 |
|
|
June 22, 2009 |
|
|
June 9, 2009 |
|
|
March 28, 2009 |
|
|
March 17, 2009 |
|
|
March 10, 2009 |
|
|
March 9, 2009 |
|
|
January 13, 2009 |
|
|
January 8, 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
December 22, 2008 |
|
|
December 16, 2008 |
|
|
October 25, 2008 |
|
|
October 15, 2008 |
|
|
October 14, 2008 |
|
|
August 28, 2008 |
|
|
August 27, 2008 |
|
|
August 7, 2008 |
|
|
August 7, 2008 |
|
|
July 17, 2008 |
|
|
July 15, 2008 |
|
|
July 13, 2008 |
|
|
July 7, 2008 |
|
|
May 13, 2008 |
|
|
April 10, 2008 |
|
|
April 2, 2008 |
|
|
March 23, 2008 |
|
|
March 20, 2008 |
|
|
March 4, 2008 |
|
|
February 28, 2008 |
|
|
February 19, 2008 |
|
|
February 1, 2008 |
|
|
January 29, 2008 |
|
|
January 18, 2008 |
|
|
January 8, 2008 |
|
|
January 6, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
December 27, 2007 |
|
|
November 22, 2007 |
|
|
November 20, 2007 |
|
|
November 19, 2007 |
|
|
November 12, 2007 |
|
|
Sister
Mary Scanlon
(Sister James Anthony) |
November 8, 2007 |
|
November 8, 2007 |
|
|
September 29, 2007 |
|
|
September 11, 2007 |
|
|
September 6, 2007 |
|
|
September 3, 2007 |
|
|
August 23, 2007 |
|
|
August 16, 2007 |
|
|
August 6, 2007 |
|
|
July 17, 2007 |
|
|
July 1, 2007 |
|
|
June 24, 2007 |
|
|
June 22, 2007 |
|
|
June 21, 2007 |
|
|
June 11, 2007 |
|
|
May 24, 2007 |
|
|
May 24, 2007 |
|
|
May 19, 2007 |
|
|
May 17, 2007 |
|
|
May 12. 2007 |
|
|
May 10, 2007 |
|
|
April 29, 2007 |
|
|
April 24, 2007 |
|
|
April 5, 2007 |
|
|
March 5, 2007 |
|
|
March 2, 2007 |
|
|
February 5, 2007 |
|
|
February 4, 2007 |
|
|
January 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
November 23, 2006 |
|
|
November 8, 2006 |
|
|
November 1, 2006 |
|
|
October 29, 2006 |
|
|
October 6, 2006 |
|
|
September 29, 2006 |
|
|
September 26, 2006 |
|
|
September 15, 2006 |
|
|
August 26, 2006 |
|
|
August 18, 2006 |
|
|
August 16, 2006 |
|
|
August 11, 2006 |
|
|
August 2, 2006 |
|
|
July 21, 2006 |
|
|
July 17, 2006 |
|
|
July 14, 2006 |
|
|
June 24, 2006 |
|
|
May 27, 2006 |
|
|
May 19, 2006 |
|
|
April 24, 2006 |
|
|
April 12, 2006 |
|
|
April 5, 2006 |
|
|
April 2, 2006 |
|
|
April 1, 2006 |
|
|
March 25, 2006 |
|
|
March 24, 2006 |
|
|
March 6 , 2006 |
|
|
March 5 , 2006 |
|
|
February 22 , 2006 |
|
|
February 22 , 2006 |
|
|
February 13 , 2006 |
|
|
February 7 , 2006 |
|
|
February 4 , 2006 |
|
|
January 28 , 2006 |
|
|
January 21 , 2006 |
|
|
January 15 , 2006 |
|
|
January 11, 2006 |
|
|
January 11 , 2006 |
|
|
January 6, 2006 |
Sister Helen Veronica
McKenna, SSJ 
Sister Helen
Veronica (Mary F. McKenna) 87, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 69 years, died on January 6, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph Villa on
January 11, 2006.
Sister Helen was
born in Philadelphia, PA and her early education was in parochial schools
there. She graduated from John W. Hallahan High
School, Philadelphia, received a bachelorÕs degree from Chestnut Hill College,
a masterÕs degree from The Catholic University of America, and a doctorate from
Fordham University.
Early in her
apostolic life, Sister Helen ministered in elementary and secondary schools in
the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Camden. Later and for nearly forty years, Sister
Helen served at Chestnut Hill College as a professor, Academic Dean, and as a
volunteer. During her time at Chestnut Hill, she witnessed significant events
and major changes.
In 1997, Sister
became a resident of St. Joseph Villa. In an interview with her while she was a
resident at the Villa, she shared that as a child, she wanted to be an altar
server and could not understand why this was not possible. She decided that it had something to do
with carrying the heavy books; it never dawned on her then that it was because
of gender. Since she could not be ordained a Catholic priest, Sister Helen
decided to enter the Sisters of Saint Joseph as a second choice. She joined her
sister and good friend, the late S. Pierre Marie, in the congregation in 1937.
At her funeral, her
friend S. Mary Helen Kashuba shared with those
present ÒSister Helen Veronica always knew when it was time to move on, and she
did it graciously and without a fuss. É In my conversations with her in the
past few months preceding her sudden death, I knew that it was time to move on
for one final step. Once again, she moved quietly and graciously to a new and
certainly better life, where she now sees what eye has not seen, the glory of
God bright as the noonday sun.Ó
Sister Francis Daniel Brady, SSJ 
Sister Francis
Daniel (Catherine Brady) 95, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 75 years, died on January 11, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on January 16,
2006.
Sister Francis, one
of eight children, was born in Philadelphia, where she attended parochial
schools before entering the Congregation in 1930 from St. MichaelÕs Parish in
Philadelphia. She received a bachelorÕs degree in education from Villanova
University.
For more than 60
years, Sister ministered in elementary schools in the Archdioceses of Newark
Philadelphia and Washington DC as well as in the Diocese of Camden. ÒChildren always added to the joy
of my dayÓ, said Sister Francis, and she dedicated her entire years of ministry
to teaching elementary school students, primarily those in the middle
grades. In later years, she served
as school secretary, receptionist and as an aide to the school nurse. Upon her
retirement, Sister served the members of her local community as a convent
helper before moving to St. Joseph Villa in 2000.
If education was
her primary ministry and love, shopping was a favorite avocation. For Sister
Francis, one of the benefits of being missioned at St. Callistus
in Philadelphia was its proximity to 69th Street where she could
window-shop and enjoy her favorite ice cream! While a resident at the Villa,
Sister Francis still liked to dress up, go shopping and eat out with
friends.
When asked what
advice she would give to new members of the Congregation, she said:
ÒGod
loves all of us and keeps us daily in His loving care. Try not
to
fret or worry. Seek advice from your mentors; they are always
glad
to help you. Be not timid about asking; we were all young once
and
we all want to learn the best way to use our talentsÓ
What made her words
so powerful was the fact that she had lived them so many years with fidelity
and grace.
Sister Margaret OÕDonnell, SSJ 
Sister Margaret OÕ
Donnell (formerly Sister Flavian) 90, a beloved
member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 72 years died on
January 11, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was
celebrated there on January 18, 2006.
Sister Margaret
lived most of her young life in Bayonne, NJ where she met the Sisters of Saint
Joseph at St. MaryÕs Grammar School and continued her education with them at
Holy Family Academy, Bayonne. Soon after graduation in 1934, Margaret entered
the congregation. In preparation for her ministry of education, Sister Margaret
received a B.S. in education from Villanova University.
For 46 years,
Sister Margaret taught students in elementary schools and learning centers in
the Archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia, as well as in the Diocese of
Harrisburg. She loved working with children and she continued to do so until
later in life when she became a local community helper in her beloved Bayonne,
her Camelot.
S. Margaret learned
about the importance of prayer from her mother. Her mother believed in the
power of prayer and once journeyed to the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre for the
sole purpose of asking God to have one of her girls enter the Sisters of Saint
Joseph. God heard her prayer and
called not one but two of her daughters, Margaret and Betty, to the community!
Betty followed Margaret into the community and became Sister Helena.
While a resident at
St. Joseph Villa, S. Margaret was asked what advice she would offer to the
younger members of the congregation. Her response was quite simple, ÒIÕd tell
them to always be prepared for the given work at hand, and constantly offer to
do for others.Ó That was how she desired to live her own life.
S. Margaret OÕ
Donnell was a no-fuss, private person who lived her life with humility and
great-heartedness- a gift to her family, her friends and her community and a
model for us all.
Sister Grace Agatha Rogers, SSJ 
Sister Grace Agatha
(Marie Elizabeth Rogers) 89, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 70 years died at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA on January
15, 2006. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on January 19, 2006.
The daughter of
Irish immigrants, Sister Grace was born in Philadelphia where she attended St.
Francis of Assisi School and graduated from John W. Hallahan
High School, Philadelphia, before entering the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 1935.
Sister Grace received a B.S. from Villanova University and M.A. in Educational
Administration from Seton Hall University.
Throughout her
life, it was characteristic of her self-effacing and humble posture to enhance
the gifts and goodness of others rather than her own.
In her over 60
years in active ministry, Sister Grace served thoroughly and graciously in a
variety of ministries: teacher, principal, assistant librarian, office helper,
healthcare provider, supervisor, academic and congregational leader, and convent
helper for her local community. For more than fifty years Sister Grace
ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and spent a short time serving in
the Archdiocese of Newark.
In 1998, Sister
Grace moved to the Villa as a resident where she spent her days visiting other
residents and faithfully attending to many sisters and friends. Sister Patricia
Kelly, Congregational President,
noted at her funeral, that Ò
For seventy years, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, along with all whom Sister
Grace loved and served were blessed with the presence of a woman religious
,quietly receptive and responsive to every experience GodÕs loving will
unwrapped for her.Ó
Sister Jane Immaculate Matsinger,SSJ 
Sister Jane
Immaculate (Marie E. Matsinger) 86, a beloved member
of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 69 years, died on January
21, 2006 at the Woods Rehabilitation Center, Norristown, PA. Sister JaneÕs funeral liturgy was
celebrated on January 25,2006 at
St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA.
Sister Jane grew up
in Corpus Christi Parish, Philadelphia. Her association with the Sisters of
Saint Joseph who taught her at Corpus Christi School and Holy Souls Commercial
influenced her in her vocation. Prior to entering the Congregation in 1937,
Jane worked as a secretary for the WPA for two years. Sister Jane received a
B.S. in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College.
The education of
children was her primary ministry focus for more than forty years in the
Archdioceses of Newark, Philadelphia and Washington, DC and the Dioceses of
Harrisburg and Trenton. Just prior
to SisterÕs death, a former student from her first mission called the Villa to
inquire about Sister JaneÕs health.
During that telephone call, the student told how she loved Sister and
remembered her treating her and the children so kindly.
Immediately before
becoming a resident at St. Joseph Villa in 2001, Sister Jane enjoyed living in
an active senior house, St. Bartholomew in Philadelphia, from which she drove
to the Villa each day to chauffer the sister residents to doctorsÕ
appointments.
Sister Jane was an
outgoing, friendly person who enjoyed conversation, the company of other
sisters and sharing stories with others at the Villa. During her latter years,
she especially appreciated being at Saint Joseph Villa with her dear sister,
Sister Helen Christi, who was so faithful to her.
Sister Leah Marlene Jones, SSJ 
Sister Leah Marlene
Jones (formerly Sister Mary Eunice) 67, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut
Hill, for 49 years died at Delaware County Hospital, Drexel Hill, PA on January
28, 2006. A Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated on February 1, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA.
Born in Scranton,
PA, Sister Leah attended grammar and high schools in Newark, NJ at St. Peter
School and Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Three years before her
entrance into the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 1957, Leah was initiated into the
Catholic faith community. Leah had the unique privilege of sponsoring her
father at his baptism a short time later.
After attending
Montclair State, Sister Leah received her B.S. in Elementary Education from
Chestnut Hill College and her M.A. in Secondary Science from Villanova University.
Sister Leah was well prepared to become the teacher that she wanted to be. Her
preparation, study and enrichment choices for the teaching of secondary science
were abundant. An
administrator wrote of her: ÒShe challenges her students; creates a healthy
atmosphere; is positive with her students—and I do not believe that
anyone in our school is better prepared on a daily basis.Ó Her commitment to
Catholic education led her to teach on the elementary and secondary levels for
more than forty-five years in the Archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia as
well as in the Dioceses of Allentown and Wilmington.
At her funeral
liturgy, Sister Pat Kelly offered this prayerful farewell to Sister Leah: ÒYou
have dismissed your servant, Leah, in peace, O God. We thank you for her life
among us. May she see your glory and unfold the beauty of your love always.Ó
Sister Joan Miriam Mullin, SSJ 
Sister Joan Miriam
(Marie Dolores Mullin) 75, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut
Hill, for 56 years died on February 4, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown,
PA. A Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated there on February 8, 2006.
Born on Christmas
Day, Sister Joan was one of four Mullin children raised in Southwest Philadelphia.
Sister attended Transfiguration School and West Catholic High School before
entering the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 1950. Chestnut Hill College awarded her
a bachelorÕs degree in Elementary Education.
For more than 40
years, Sister Joan served as an elementary teacher and school librarian in the
Archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia and in the Diocese of Harrisburg.
Sister knew the joy of good relationships with her students. Little ones desired her attention and
one group of older students protested when Sister was transferred! At different
points, she coached a
school basketball
team and even practiced roller-skating in the evening so that she could join
the skaters on Saturday afternoons in the school auditorium! When her health
declined, Sister Joan moved from an active senior house at St. BartholomewÕs in
Philadelphia to become a resident at St. Joseph Villa in 1999.
Sister JoanÕs
seven-year Villa experience was graced. She described herself changing from
being reluctant about being at the Villa, to being content with things, and
finally, to loving the Villa. Sister Joan took advantage of the gift of time
and learned to use the computer in order to write thank you notes and make
cards for her family. At the
Villa, Sister Joan continued her joyful spirit and her interest in new things.
Her wants were simple. What made this self-declared introvert happy? She appreciated it when people smiled at
her. Sister Joan rewarded the giver with a broad smile of her own!
Sister Joan bore
her illness with a holy and humble generosity of spirit. She now rests in the
arms of a loving God who probably welcomed her home with a huge smile she so
enjoyed receiving.
Sister Consolata Currie, SSJ 
Sister Consolata (Rita M. Currie) 90, a beloved member of the
Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 74 years died on February 7, 2006
at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on February 13, 2006.
Sister Consolata was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended
parochial schools there. SisterÕs mother, Ida, was a Quaker when she married
her husband and she practiced her religion very faithfully. One day, Mrs.
Currie called her family together to tell them that she wanted the family to be
one and that she had begun to take instructions to become a member of the
Catholic faith community. One of
SisterÕs most vivid memories of her childhood was the day that her mother was
received into the church!
Drawn to the
Sisters of Saint Joseph who taught her, Sister Consolata
entered the congregation from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Germantown in
September 1932. Sister received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Chestnut
Hill College and an M.S. in Library
Science from The Catholic University of America.
For the entire 64
years of her active ministry life, Sister Consolata
served the children of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. What a gift she was to
them! A lover of music, Sister began her ministry as a piano teacher.
Eventually she moved into her role as a classroom teacher, a vocation that she
came to love. She was a thorough and conscientious teacher who encouraged her
students to become self-disciplined and critical thinkers. In her later years in education, she
taught small groups of students honors mathematics. In 1998, Sister Consolata
became a resident at St. Joseph Villa.
During her long
life, Sister lived through many changes in our world, in the church and in the
Sisters of Saint Joseph. She humbly
noted, ÒI have tried to accept any changes approved by the Church and our
community.Ó She lived her life that way.
In 1932, her pastor recognized something special in her when he wrote,
ÒMiss Rita M. Currie is very anxious to become a sister and I can recommend her
most highly to your good care, feeling certain that she will be a great asset
to whatever sisterhood she may belong.Ó The Sisters of Saint Joseph are
grateful that she chose them!
Sister Marie Antoinette Jeffers, SSJ 
Sister Marie
Antoinette (Catherine M. Jeffers) 90, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 71 years, died on February 13, 2006 at St. Joseph
Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on
February 17, 2006.
The oldest child of
Irish immigrants, Sister Antoinette was born in Philadelphia where she attended
St. Columba and St. Francis of Assisi elementary schools and St. Francis of
Assisi Commercial School before entering the Congregation in 1935. Sister
Antoinette received a B.S. in Education from Villanova University.
Because she loved
children, Sister Antoinette spent almost 60 years, her entire time in active
ministry, in the service of elementary schoolchildren in the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia and in the dioceses of Allentown, Camden, Harrisburg and
Wilmington. She had a tender spot for fourth graders, her favorite grade to
teach, and took great pride in their learning the times tables before the end
of the year.
In 1994, when it
was time for her to retire, Sister Antoinette became a resident at St. Joseph
Villa where she spent a great deal of time visiting the other sisters
there. She loved to talk and it was
not easy to end a conversation with her but she was always interested in what
the other sisters were thinking and feeling. Possessing a grateful spirit, she
was appreciative for even the smallest kindness that was extended to her at the
Villa.
Sister Antoinette
maintained a positive spirit and gracious manner until God called this woman
with a queenly name home on February 13.
Sister Elizabeth A. Daley, SSJ 
Sister Elizabeth A.
Daley (formerly Sister Elizabeth James) 71, a beloved member of the Sisters of
Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 44 years, died on February 22, 2006 at St.
Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on
February 24, 2006.
Sister Elizabeth
was born and raised in Heckschersville, PA. She
attended St. Kieran Elementary School there and Pottsville Catholic High School
before entering the Congregation in 1961 at the age of 27. Sister received a B. S. degree in
Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College.
In ministry, Sister
Elizabeth served in several different positions, elementary school teacher,
classroom assistant and social worker, in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Newark
and Philadelphia, as well as in the dioceses of Allentown, and Metuchen. For her, teaching was the most
fulfilling ministry. In exit interviews with graduating eighth graders, the
students often named Sister Elizabeth as their favorite teacher and suggested that
other teachers could learn from her methods.
Though she had a
quiet demeanor, Sister Elizabeth had a spirit of adventure and once drove
cross-country, sleeping in a tent and experiencing lightning storms,
tumbleweeds, animals and all the things that came with roughing it. She liked
to fish and was very successful in snaring a catch. Bingo was a favorite pastime and often
this seventh child of a seventh child won!
In 1999, Sister
Elizabeth received the news that she had Alzheimer Õs disease. At that time, her response wasÓ Well,
itÕs the will of God.Ó Throughout her seven-year illness, she was the
beneficiary of much love and attention from her friends, members of her local
community at St. Ambrose, Old Bridge, and her dear family members. That
attention and faithful care continued when she became a resident of St. Joseph
Villa in 2002. On February 22,
2006, God called Sister Elizabeth to a new adventure and the promise of
continued unconditional love.
Sister Catherine Lengle,SSJ 
Sister Catherine Lengle (formerly Sister James Laboure)
68, a beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 50 years,
died on February 22, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of
Christian Burial was celebrated there on February 27, 2006.
A native of
Lebanon, PA, Kitty attended St. MaryÕs School there and was a graduate of
Lebanon Catholic High School. Born on her motherÕs birthday, Kitty was a great
gift to her parents and her family. She became a gift to the Sisters of Saint
Joseph who welcomed her after her graduation.
With an enormous
love for children, it was no surprise that Sister Catherine would be an
excellent teacher and a competent principal. She received an A.B. from Chestnut Hill
College and an M.A. from the University of Delaware that enabled her to meet
the needs of the children she encountered in elementary and secondary schools
in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and in the Diocese of Harrisburg. For five years, Sister Catherine taught
students at the Catholic Mission, Liberia, West Africa. When asked about her memory of Africa,
her face lit up as she responded,Ó The people-the people were so beautiful just
like the country. They were happy, friendly and full of gratitude for even the
smallest thing.Ó Sister Catherine was an assistant in the Dream Catcher, the
SSJ Literacy Project, and most recently served as a parish CCD coordinator.
Although Sister
Catherine was an extremely simple person, there was depth and wisdom in her
that was special. Sometimes that wisdom and depth evidenced itself in quiet
conversation, faith sharing, or a moment of serious conversation. However, much
of wisdom and good common sense was experienced over a cup of coffee in the
kitchen while she chopped vegetables for a pot of homemade soup.
In recent years,
Sister CatherineÕs increasing physical limitations seemed to be matched by an
increasing ability to know what the important things in life are. Daily prayer,
retreat, quiet and solitude were core parts of her life. These empowered her to
be among GodÕs people in very ordinary situations with extraordinary love. It
was fitting that she chose for her funeral a gospel hymn, His Eye is on the Sparrow. Now, Sister Catherine too Òsings because
sheÕs happy. She sings because sheÕs free.Ó
Sister Mary Audrey OÕConnor, SSJ 
Sister Mary Audrey
OÕConnor (Rita M. OÕConnor) 83, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph, Chestnut Hill for 66 years, died on March 5, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on March 8,
2006.
Born in Bridgeport,
PA, Sister attended St. Matthew Elementary School and graduated from St.
Matthew High School, both in Conshohocken, PA, before entering the congregation
in 1940. Sister Mary Audrey received a B.A. from Chestnut Hill College and an
M.A. from Columbia University.
In ministry, Sister
Mary Audrey shared her gifts with those in the Archdioceses of Newark,
Philadelphia, and Washington, DC as well as in the dioceses of Allentown and
Trenton. Sister had a very
rich ministry experience and served in a variety of educational ministries
including elementary and preschool teacher, tutor, diocesan Religion
Coordinator for elementary schools, and diocesan Director of Elementary and
Early Childhood. As she reflected back on her years in active ministry, Sister
shared, ÒThere were so many wonderful adults from so many areas whom I
encountered, so many little children-and not so little-who helped to keep me
young-each one bringing joy into my life!Ó
In 2001, Sister
Mary Audrey decided to go to St. Joseph Villa where she made herself
responsible for several small but important tasks. She gave time to being a
receptionist and was very faithful to visiting the sisters who were unable to
leave their rooms. She also enjoyed
spending five years with her little sister and best friend, Sister Daniel
Margaret.
While a resident at
the Villa, Sister was asked what advice she would offer to newer members of the
congregation, Sister stated, ÒI would tell them to look on each day as a
journey of faith. My experiences have led me far, but as I traveled along in
faith, I have been strengthened, graced and rewarded.Ó Sister Mary Audrey now
enjoys her eternal reward.
Sister Patricia Ann Brennan, SSJ 
Sister Patricia Ann
Brennan (formerly Sister Robert Loretta), 71, a beloved member of the Sisters
of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 53 years, died on March 6, 2006 in Naples ,
Florida. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA on March 13, 2006.
A native of Heckschersville, PA, Sister Patricia entered the
congregation from St. PatrickÕs Parish, Pottsville, PA. There, she attended St. PatrickÕs
Elementary School and Pottsville Catholic High School. Sister Patricia earned a
B.A. degree from Chestnut Hill College.
Early in her
ministry life, Sister Patricia taught elementary and high school students in
the Archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia and in the dioceses of Allentown
and Harrisburg. She then felt drawn
to move into retreat work, which she expected to be nice and calm. Instead, she
moved to where she thought that God was calling her to serve. Her life became a
bit more messy and chaotic as she began shelters for homeless women and
children. She established homes for the elderly, and for women and
children. Sister Patricia advocated
for the poor and raised money for city shelters and soup kitchens. Later, her pastoral work included
visiting the sick in their homes and in hospitals. From her life, we learn about being open
to the transforming power of GodÕs grace, which is often full of surprises and
takes us where we least expect to go. Illness forced Sister Patricia to retire
in 2005.
In the final stages
of her illness, Sister Patricia continued to live with a heart open to the voice
of her God, and she was comforted by this relationship. In the Scripture
reading on the day that she died, it was so appropriate that Jesus talks about
final judgment. ÒCome you have my fatherÕs blessing; inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the creation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave
me food, thirsty and you gave me to drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, ill
and you visited me. I assure you
that as often as you did this to the least of my brothers and sisters you did
it for me.Ó She taught us well.
Sister Mary A.
Gillespie (formerly Sister Thomas Catherine) 83, a beloved member of the
Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 64 years, died on March 24, 2006 at
St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on March 28, 2006.
One of ten children
of Irish immigrants from Donegall, Sister Mary was
born in Philadelphia, where she attended parochial schools. She graduated from
John W. Hallahan High School in 1940. Though she felt called to religious
life, the death of her mother, and the ominous world situation delayed her
entrance into the Sisters of Saint Joseph until September of 1941. Subsequently,
Sister Mary received a B.S. from Chestnut Hill College and an M.A. from
Kutztown University.
For more than 60
years, Sister MaryÕs ministries introduced her to many diverse people in many
different geographic locations. As
an elementary school teacher and principal, she served in the Archdioceses of
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC in addition to ministering in the
dioceses of Arlington and Harrisburg. When the principal at her first school
heard that she had six brothers, she immediately assigned Sister Mary to a
first grade class of nearly 100 boys!
She survived and so did they. Sister Mary also spent six summers working
with postulants and novices at Fontbonne Hall. Again,
she dealt with large numbers well.
In her later years, she served as a school librarian before becoming a
resident of St. Joseph Villa in 2003.
Sister Mary had a
friendly manner and a contagious laugh that endeared her to her family, her
students, to children and adults, and to her sisters in community. Her
welcoming manner helped to put others at ease and enabled her to draw forth the
best in them. She spent hours in prayer for so many intentions. Her last days
were spent reminding God through her continuous prayers to Jesus that she was
ready, ready to go home. God took her home on March 24.
Sister Kotska Brady, SSJ 
Sister Kotska Brady (Helen Marie Brady) 93, a beloved member of
the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 73 years, died on March 25,
2006 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated
there on March 30, 2006.
Born in Baltimore,
MD, Sister Kotska completed her elementary and
secondary school education at the Institute of Notre Dame in Baltimore. In 1932, she boarded a train to
Philadelphia and began her life as a Sister of Saint Joseph. She continued her
academic life and received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill
College and a M.A. in Religious Studies from St. Charles Seminary.
For 59 years,
Sister Kotska served as a dedicated and caring
educator in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, DC and
in the dioceses of Allentown, Camden, Harrisburg and Wilmington teaching both
elementary and secondary students.
In her own words,Ó Teaching was a fulfilling ministry because I was able
to live my desire to be kind and helpful, in this instance to the
students.Ó
Later in her life,
she returned to her beloved Baltimore area and became Òthe sister in charge of
attendanceÓ. Her principal later wrote in tribute,
Ó You have given
admirable service as a model Christian educator, a woman of principle, skill,
energy, organization and compassion.Ó In her attendance office position, she
was beloved by parents who trusted her judgments and students who tried to get
away with things but were delighted when she caught them! Into her eighties,
she was open to change and involved in many activities. She might be found at
an evening prayer service to honor slain Salvadorian churchwomen or cheering on
the school basketball team at a tournament. She became a resident of St. Joseph
Villa in 1996.
On the feast of the
Annunciation, Sister Kotska Brady began another leg
of her journey, the reward for a life lived in attentiveness to GodÕs
commandment to choose life and to connect in love.
Sister Ann Ignatius Wagaman, SS J 
Sister Ann Ignatius
(Gladys Wagaman) 93, a beloved member of the Sisters
of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 74 years, died on April 1, 2006 at St.
Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on
April 4, 2006.
Born in McSherrystown, PA, Sister Ann attended elementary and
secondary school at St. MaryÕs School there before entering the congregation.
In support of her application to the congregation, her pastor wrote, ÒGladys M.
Wagaman is known to me as a young lady of excellent
character. She was always faithful in the performance of her religious duties
and was an excellent student while in high school.Ó How blessed the congregation was to have
her leave her beloved McSherrystown and journey to
Chestnut Hill!
Sister Ann received
a bachelorÕs degree from Chestnut Hill College that prepared her for her life
long ministry as an educator. For more than 60 years, Sister taught elementary
school students in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Washington, DC and in
the Diocese of Harrisburg. Her many
years in active ministry were dedicated to teaching all types of students,
those who learned quickly and those who needed to learn differently because of
physical and mental handicaps. She was a beloved teacher and her students
remembered her with gratitude and described her as kind, firm, challenging and
patient.
In 1996, Sister Ann
became a resident of Saint Joseph Villa where she continued to pray for the
intentions of all those whom she loved, especially for those in her beloved McSherrystown, a place that she described as Òa
neighborhood full of love and respect for one another and all of earth.Ó On April 1, 2006, Sister Ann Ignatius
found a new neighborhood of love where for sure Òshe will see the face of God
face to face.Ó (Revelations 22)
Sister St. Colette
(Anna Louise Grier) 92, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 73 years, died on April 2, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated there on April 6, 2006.
Born in
Philadelphia, Anna and her family lived in North Philadelphia and then moved to
St. Francis deSales Parish in the southwest section
of the city where she completed elementary school. Her first attraction to religious life
occurred while she was still in grade school but it was while at West Catholic
High School that she gave it serious thought. She felt called; but where- the Sisters
of Saint Joseph or the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart? At one point she thought:ÓIf I step on the lines, I will enter the IHMÕs ,
but if I step on the spaces, IÕll enter the SSJÕs. She later said, ÒI believe that I made
myself step on the spaces.Ó
On her reception
day, Anna received the name Sister St. Colette. Her fatherÕs aunt had been
Mother Colette, SSJ and the family was delighted with her new name! Her dad had
a great love for the Sisters of St. Joseph who raised him at St. JohnÕs
Orphanage. It was ironic that by profession he was a carpenter and he died on
March 19, the Feast of Saint Joseph. So many connections!
Sister St. Colette
received an A. B. from Chestnut Hill College and an M.A. from Villanova
University. During her many years of ministry, Sister taught mathematics to
elementary and secondary students in the Archdioceses of Newark, Philadelphia
and Washington, DC and Diocese of Trenton. When poor health caused her to stop
teaching, she assumed responsibility for a school bookstore and turned it into
a gift shop!
In 1992, Sister St.
Colette requested permission to move to the Villa. While there, she was
determined to remain active, always planning what to do next. In her words, ÒWe
all make our own happiness.Ó It was
her great faith in our loving God and devotion to prayer that enabled her to
say before she died, ÒI have never been unhappyÓ. What a wonderful, full life Sister St.
Colette enjoyed!
Sister Paul Anthony Kronberger, SSJ 
Sister Paul Anthony
(Mary Kronberger) 98, a beloved member of the Sisters
of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 77 years, died on April 5, 2006 at St.
Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on
April 7, 2006
Born in
Philadelphia, Sister PaulÕs father died when she was very young. One of six children, she went to live
for a while at Catholic Home where she met the Sisters of Saint Joseph for the
first time. Later she attended John
W. Hallahan High School in Philadelphia. Before entering the congregation at 22,
Sister Paul worked as a stenographer at a company that was close to St. Agnes
Church that housed a shrine to St. Anthony. There she prayed every day on her
lunch hour and was inspired to enter religious life. It was fitting that she received the
name Anthony as part of her religious name!
Sister Paul Anthony
received a B. S. degree in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College. For
most of her life, Sister Paul taught and tutored young children in the
Archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia and in the dioceses of Arlington,
Camden, Harrisburg, and Trenton. For a nine-year period, Sister Paul was a
member of the staff that oversaw the formation of congregational postulants at Fontbonne Hall. Sister Paul served as the infirmarian and even after many years, she greeted former
postulants by name. No easy task when hundreds passed through her life at that
time! After that, Sister became a
Technical Aide at St. Joseph Villa before becoming a resident there in 1992.
In her own words,
Sister Paul described her life as one that had been richly blessed and mostly
prosaic. She lived a simple life extraordinarily well. Sister PaulÕs friends on the fourth
floor of the Villa held her in great esteem for her goodness and kindness to
everyone. Perhaps God welcomed her
on April 5 with words similar to these: ÒWelcome home, my chosen one in whom I
delight. Come and enjoy the place that I have prepared for you.Ó
Sister Sally
Daly(formerly Sister Michael Denise) 62, a beloved member of the Sisters of
Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill for 44 years, died on April 12, 2006 at the
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
Funeral liturgies
were celebrated on April 17, 2006 at St. Timothy Church, Philadelphia and at
St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA on April 18, 2006.
The daughter of
Irish immigrants from County Mayo, Sally was born in Philadelphia where she
attended St. Callistus Elementary School and West
Catholic High School. After graduation, Sally entered the congregation and
received a B.S. from Chestnut Hill College. Her entire forty-two years in ministry
were spent serving the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in just four
schools, an unusual occurrence for a Sister of Saint Joseph!
For most of her
life, Sally ministered to GodÕs people as a school librarian. And serve she
did! Sister Sally was a very simple, unassuming woman, always in motion. A
ten-minute nap got her ready to attack the next task on her endless list of
things to do. As an educator, SallyÕs motto might have been Óchildren firstÓ. Besides working to put a poem in every
childÕs pocket, she worked to put the love of reading into every studentÕs
education, every childÕs heart. In the evening, she would preview each of the new
library books before she put them on the shelves for curious minds to read. She
said that she was happiest when Ó I am in the library teaching my students how
to navigate in a sea of information.Ó
For many years,
Sister Sally was a dedicated member of the Catholic Library Association and was
honored just this year with the prestigious national Mary A. Grant Volunteer
Service Award in recognition of her involvement and contributions to the CLA
over her many years as a librarian.
Sister Sally wanted
to live life to the fullest; she wanted to do GodÕs work. This very generous
woman had a sense of compassion for all suffering people-poor persons, the
elderly, the sick, and anyone who needed help of any kind. Sister Sally truly
embodied the virtue of generous hospitality, always welcoming folks with a
smile. On April 12, perhaps God
greeted Sister Sally with the words that she used so often to welcome others:
ÒThanks for coming; thanks for caring.Ó
Sister Mary Joseph
Walsh (Mary H. Walsh) 86, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 66 years, died on April 24, 2006 at Chestnut Hill Hospital,
Philadelphia. A Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA on April 26, 2006.
Born in
Philadelphia, Sister Mary attended the parish school of Our Lady of Victory in
West Philadelphia and graduated from West Catholic High School in Philadelphia. Very early in her life,
Sister Mary felt a call to religious life. However, her father advised his only
child Òto live and work in the worldÓ before entering the convent. Mary heeded
his advice and waited until her twenty first birthday to enter the
congregation. Sister Mary continued her education and was awarded an A. B. from
Chestnut Hill College and an M.A. in religion from The Catholic University of
America.
For more than 60
years, Sister Mary served the people of the Archdioceses of Newark and
Philadelphia and the Dioceses of Camden and Harrisburg. Sister Mary began her active ministry as
an elementary school teacher. After a time, she was missioned to teach at a
high school boarding school. Though initially afraid of that age group, Sister
Mary grew to love the school and its students. This live-in experience prepared her
somewhat for a new position as staff member at Mt. St. Joseph Novitiate and at
the newly opened Postulate, where she taught the novices and postulants for
several years. Sister Mary also
served as a Director of Religious Education and as an office volunteer before
becoming a resident of St. Joseph Villa in 1996.
While at the Villa,
Sister Mary was asked what advice she would offer to the newer members of the
congregation now and she offered, ÒBe willing to do anything the community
asks. Make the changes necessary and do it with a whole heart.Ó She was keenly aware of how
difficult some changes were for her-in the Church, in religious life and in
society- but she was also aware that God provided the grace to move through
them. The words from the Gospel of
John that Sister Mary chose for her final farewell Ò I have come, not to do my
own will , but the will of the one who sent me.Ó tell us how this woman chose to live her long
life.
Sister Teresa Hassett, SSJ 
Sister Teresa Hassett (formerly Sister Daniel Teresa) 85, a beloved
member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph for 67 years, died on May 19, 2006 at St.
Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass
of Christian Burial was celebrated there on May 24, 2006.
A Philadelphia
native, Sister Teresa attended various parochial and public schools in that
city before graduating from Cecilian Academy High
School where she encountered and admired the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Having
grown up in a home with a very strong faith component fostered by her parents,
Sister Teresa was drawn to enter the congregation in 1939.
Having graduated
with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College, Sister Teresa
taught elementary school children in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia, Washington,
DC and in the Diocese of Harrisburg. Although teaching was rewarding and
fulfilling for her, she felt drawn to a different type of ministry after
teaching for 38 years. Sister Teresa studied Clinical Pastoral Education to
become a certified Catholic hospital chaplain, serving in that capacity for
more than 20 years. She found the work challenging, but she loved the patients
that she met. She enjoyed being with maternity patients, working with young
people struggling with addictions and helping abused children.
Sister TeresaÕs
many years as a Sister of Saint Joseph were marked by unswerving faith in
God-and a strong sense of self. She
had a personal maxim that inspired her resilience and interior courage: ÒActive
faith in God; active faith in self creates love and faith for all.Ó After she became a resident at St.
Joseph Villa in 2003, Sister Teresa prayed daily and intentionally for so many
needs and persons. In her last days, she longed to see the face of God and
said,Ó I have work to do. I have to intercede for all of you on earth.Ó On May 19, she got her wish is certainly
now certified to intercede for all.
Sister Irma Catharine Leicht, SSJ 
Sister Irma
Catharine (Irene C. Leicht) 89, a beloved member of
the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 71 years, died on May 27, 2006
at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated
there on June 1, 2006.
Born in
Philadelphia, Sister Irma attended Our Lady of the Rosary School and West Catholic
High School there before entering the congregation in 1935. She received a B.S. in Elementary
Education from Chestnut Hill College.
For more than
thirty years, Sister taught elementary and secondary school students in the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia and in the Diocese of Harrisburg. In 1973, while
teaching high school, Sister Irma noticed a letter on a bulletin board asking
teachers to volunteer their services with Catholic Social Services. Responding
to that invitation would change the course of Sister IrmaÕs ministry life and
the life of so many others.
Immediately, she began to work with and for senior citizens. At first, she organized programs for
senior citizens in local parishes and then assumed responsibility as Diocesan
Coordinator for Seniors in the Diocese of Harrisburg. This ministry led her to
develop ÒOver 50Ó Clubs, arrange retreats, and organize an annual concert given
for seniors. Later, Sister shared her enthusiasm and expertise in the Diocese
of Allentown where she coordinated parish support for those who are poor, gave
religious instruction to the incarcerated and expanded the widows program.
In 1979, Sister
Irma wrote a book called You Are the
Light of My Life. It was born of her experiences of organizing Project
HEAD, that is, Help Elderly Adults
Direct. In the forward, Victoria Peralta, the foundress
of HEAD, wrote of Sister Irma: ÒHers was a spiritual journey-one that was
filled with joy and happiness all along the way. But there were times she felt
tired, drained, hurt and lostÉyet at the beginning of each new day, she found
the strength, the courage and the joy to carry on in a much better way.Ó
In a letter to
members of HEAD, Sister Irma Catharine penned, ÒIn recognizing you, I have
recognized myself, and in recognizing myself, I have recognized God.Ó Her work accomplished, Sister Irma
went home to God on May 27.
Sister Alice Rose Schilling, SSJ 
Sister Alice Rose
Schilling (formerly Sister John Catherine) 72, a beloved member of the Sisters
of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, died on June 24, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on June 28,
2006.
One of five
children, Sister Alice was born in Bayonne, NJ and attended St. Mary Elementary
School and Holy Family Academy, both in Bayonne. Alice had only the best
memories of her interaction with and education by the Sisters of Saint Joseph
and decided to enter the congregation in 1952. Her parents were distraught when
their youngest child told that them that she wanted to be an SSJ. Her mother could not bear the thought
that she would no longer be living with them. In fact, when Alice did leave for
Chestnut Hill, her parents could not live in their family home without her.
They moved to a different house!
Sister Alice
received a bachelorÕs degree in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill
College. For 27 years, she taught elementary school students in various grades
in the Archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia and in the Diocese of Allentown.
While teaching, Sister Alice volunteered at St. Joseph Villa for many summers,
doing any work that was needed. In 1983, she asked to minister full time at the
Villa and served there as a Nursing Assistant. Health problems, however, prevented her
from remaining in the work that she loved. For a brief time, Sister Alice
returned to working with children, serving as a school librarian and library
aide until she retired to the Active Senior House in her beloved Bayonne.
Sister Alice became a resident at St. Joseph Villa in 2001.
This time she was
the one needing care. Despite her physical limitations, she never lost her
spirit and great zest for life. Sister Alice liked to participate in all of the
activities that the Villa had to offer. There, Sister Alice was asked, ÒHow do
you feel when you wake up each day?Ó Without hesitation, she responded, ÒI look
out the window, see the sunshine and just thank God for another day!Ó This is the attitude that she took to
her meeting on June 24, 2006 with the God who had known her and loved her each
day of her life!
Sister Caroline Poot, SSJ 
Sister Caroline Poot (Ruth Poot) 84, a beloved
member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 62 years, died on
July 14, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial
was celebrated there on July 18, 2006.
A native of
Philadelphia, Sister Caroline attended public elementary and high school in
that city. In 1944, Sister entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph from Our Lady of
Mt. Carmel in South Philadelphia at the age of 22. At the time of her entrance,
her pastor, Father William Kane wrote, ÒI am glad to recommend Ruth to the
Sisters of Saint Joseph. She has had a very clear record; is most devoted inner
spiritual life; has received Holy Communion daily for many years; and has kept
her desire to enter religion very steadily through the years.Ó
For some years,
Sister Caroline taught in schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the
Diocese of Allentown before becoming a resident at Saint Joseph Villa in 1970.
Due to a debilitating stroke early on, Sister Caroline spent more than half of
her religious life at the Villa. Despite her physical limitations, Sister
Caroline never gave up her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and her
faithfulness at attending daily Mass. Sister Caroline was grateful for the
kindnesses that she received from so many while a resident at the Villa and
expressed her gratitude frequently.
In Sister
CarolineÕs eulogy, Sister Pat Kelly, Congregational President, commented, ÒShe
accepted her limits and so her possibilities for mission were limitless. She
concentrated on the Òbetter partÓ-a contemplative life with God in union with
all of us. Who can ever know the effect of her prayer for us, for her family,
and for all of the church and world?Ó
This simple and
childlike woman, who tried her whole life to live and act according to GodÕs
will for her, now delights in the loveliness and mystery of our loving God. No
doubt, Sister Caroline will continue to pray for all that she held so
dear.
Sister Catherine
Brennan (Sister Saint Johanna), a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph
for 63 years, died at Chestnut Hill Hospital on July 17, 2006. Sister was 83
years old. Along with her religious community, Sister Catherine is survived by
a host of devoted family members.
Sister Catherine
was born in Philadelphia and attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School
and both Hallahan and Little Flower High School.
Sister also earned a degree in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College
and worked most of her life as an elementary school teacher. Sister Catherine
ministered in the dioceses of Philadelphia, Newark, and Camden. She has been described as an excellent
teacher, appreciated by her students and admired by the young teachers whom she
generously mentored.
After five years of
living at Saint Bartholomew Convent, an active senior house in Philadelphia,
Sister Catherine became a resident of St. Joseph Villa. As she had accepted
change in the Church and in her congregation, she accepted the challenges that
age and infirmity brought her.
A Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated on July 19, 2006. Sister Catherine was remembered as a
Òdown to earth, direct person, blessed with common sense and a grateful heartÓ.
May she rest in peace in the presence of God whom she so generously
served. .
Sister Ann
Christopher (Gloria Terese Carey), 81, a beloved
member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 61 years, died on
July 21,2006 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was
celebrated there on July 25, 2006.
Born in
Philadelphia, Sister Ann attended public schools in that city before entering
the congregation in 1945 from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Germantown. Her parents were not thrilled with the
idea of her entering religious life but when she received her fatherÕs name,
Christopher, as her religious name, it may have softened them a bit.
Sister Ann was
awarded a B.S. in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College and a M.A. in
Educational Administration from Villanova University. Sister served elementary and secondary
students in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and in the dioceses of Allentown,
Camden, Harrisburg and Trenton as a teacher and administrator. After completing 33 years in educational
ministry, she embarked on a new ministry as Religious Education Coordinator and
Pastoral Associate in several parishes.
Prior to moving to St. Joseph Villa, Sister Ann also served as a
Director of Parish Services. She became a resident at the Villa in 2003.
For her funeral
liturgy, Sister Ann Christopher chose a reading from PaulÕs letter to Timothy:
ÒThe
time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the
race. I have kept the faith. God will reward me with the crown of
righteousness.Ó
Sister Ann
Christopher certainly lived a lifetime of generous service and we trust that,
having finished the race, she now wears the crown she was promised by a loving
God!
Sister Jane
Veronica (Cecilia A. Walsh) 85, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 66 years, died on August 2, 2006 at St. Joseph
Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on August
7, 2006.
Born in Bayonne,
New Jersey, Cecilia attended St. MaryÕs Grammar School in Bayonne and St.
Joseph Academy High School in McSherrystown, PA. The
Sisters of Saint Joseph taught Sister Jane throughout her school days but her
strong connection to them was deepened by her closeness to her beloved sister,
Sarah, who became Sister Mary Annice. Sister Mary Annice
entered the congregation when Cecilia was just three years old and had a major
influence on CeciliaÕs vocation. The combined service of these two women of
eighty-seven years was a gift to the Sisters of Saint Joseph and to the Church.
Sister Jane
received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chestnut Hill College and a Master of
Arts degree from St. Charles Seminary. Throughout her forty years in the
educational ministry, Sister Jane taught students in various grade levels in
the Archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia, and in the Dioceses of Allentown,
Harrisburg, and Raleigh. Because of
a sight loss due to macular degeneration, Sister Jane entered a new world of
ministry as a Pastoral Minister.
Reflecting on her life in ministry, Sister Jane shared, ÒThis disease of
the eyes opened my eyes to the beauty of many people and let me know the gift
God had given me to bring Him to them as a parish minister in their home,
nursing home or hospital.Ó After
ministering to sick persons for many years, Sister Jane became a resident of Saint
Joseph Villa in 2004.
Sister Jane always
felt that with GodÕs help she could make a difference. At the Villa, her
relationship with God became more personal and she grew to see God, not only as
her creator and redeemer but as her providential friend. She now enjoys that
friendship with God in ways that she dared not dream!
Sister Jane
Teresa(Mary McDonnell)96, a beloved member so the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 77 years, died on August 11, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on August 16,
2006.
Born in Ireland,
Mary left her parents and seven siblings and followed her beloved sister, Jane,
to the United States. Like many
other young Irish women at that time, Mary settled in Our Mother of Consolation
Parish in Chestnut Hill. While
living there, Mary met Sister Tolentine whose
friendship and sense of humor made Mary think seriously about becoming a Sister
of Saint Joseph. In January of 1929, Mary entered the Novitiate and received
the name, Sister Jane Teresa in August of that year.
For the next forty
years, Sister Jane cooked for sisters in various convents in the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia and the Diocese of Harrisburg. Sister Jane was a wonderful
cook. She faced some huge
challenges when rationing was a part of American life during World War II but
she always had a handle on things.
Often she cooked in convents when there were forty and fifty sisters to
feed but there was no doubt about who was the boss in the kitchen! Sister Jane
taught many younger sisters how to cook. No doubt, her recipes, especially her
delicious pies, continue today in some of our convent kitchens!
Sister Jane was not
learned by todayÕs standards. She had no college degrees but she had natural
abilities and talents, and an avid thirst for reading that kept her abreast of
all that was happening. When Sister
Jane was cooking in one of the convents in Philadelphia, she befriended a poor
man whom she always called ÒSt. JosephÓ. In her quiet way, she would bring him
in the back door and set a plate before him. He was the dear neighbor, the St. Joseph
of North Philly.
Most importantly,
Sister Jane knew God and spent hours in prayer and conversation with her God,
especially after she became a resident, first at Sacred Heart Hall in
1970, and then at St. Joseph Villa
in 1972. Sister Jane is now reaping the benefit of GodÕs invitationÓ Come to me
all you who labor Éand I will give you rest.Ó Having lived a long life, she now rests
in the arms of her loving God.
Sister Gertrude Bernadette Smith 
Sister Gertrude
Bernadette Smith, 89, a beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph for 71
years, died on August 12, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa where she had resided since
1999. A Memorial Mass for her was
celebrated there on August 16. Sister Gertrude Bernadette had made the
decision to give her body to science; at a later date she will also be included
in a special rite of remembrance conducted annually by the University of
Pennsylvania to honor those who choose to give this gift of themselves.
Raised in
Philadelphia, Sister Gertrude had one older sister and four younger
brothers. She began her elementary
education at Edgar Allen Poe Public School and completed it at St. MonicaÕs
Parochial School. She went on to
West Catholic High School where she was particularly impacted by her senior
English teacher, Sister Franceline, SSJ. In 1935, a year after graduating from
West, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph. It was the depression era and Sister
Gertrude reflected later that she was very grateful that she heeded her
fatherÕs advice to stay home that year to help her mother.
For her ÒLiving
History,Ó recorded by Sister Anna Josephine in 2001, Sister Gertrude reflected
on her own education and on her ministry as a teacher for over 60 years. Though
she had a double major (English and Physical Science) as well as a double minor
(History and Math) when she graduated from Chestnut Hill College, she was
delighted to pursue a MasterÕs degree in English, her first love, at Penn
State. ÒI enjoyed the academic
life,Ó she said. ÒI worked hard at
it.Ó
She enjoyed too her
teaching ministry that brought her to the dioceses of Philadelphia, Harrisburg,
Allentown, and Newark, NJ and which was spent primarily at the high school
level but also included elementary grades and teaching summer session classes
at Chestnut Hill College. In the
ÒLiving HistoryÓ interview, Sister Anna Josephine referred to Sister Gertrude
as versatile and resilient—one striking evidence of this was the range of
secondary subjects she taught over the years: Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and
her beloved English.
Sister Gertrude
passed on so much with great zeal and generosity. Her dedication to and lively interest in
the Congregation as well as her gentle attentiveness to individuals were felt
and appreciated in a special way at the Villa by residents, staff and visitors
alike. A testament to her love of
learning and openness to new
opportunities was her enthusiasm about the Hospital Ministry course which she
took from Sister Mary McGrath. ÒIt
taught me a lot about listening,Ó she said. In describing her prayer in her later
years, she explained, ÒIn prayer I try to listen in my heart.Ó
Sister Agnes Celeste Middleton 
After years of
loving service and compassionate presence to others, Sister Agnes Celeste died
at Saint Joseph Villa on August 18, 2006.
Sister was one of seven children born to Margaret (Flanagan) and Frank
Middleton and was a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph for
sixty-nine years.
Born in Newark, New
Jersey, Sister Agnes spent sixty-one years of her religious life in generous
service to the people of that Archdiocese. She earned her Bachelors degree in
Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College and a Masters Degree in
Education from Seton Hall University. Her studies together with her personal
gifts of compassion and creativity prepared her well for dedicated educational
ministry. She loved especially her role as academic leader and the opportunity
it provided for innovation, allowing her to see and respond to the needs of
teachers and students.
That same spirit of
creativity allowed Sister Agnes to accept the many changes that she saw over
her lifetime. She was proud to say
that she had lived through six wars, thirteen presidents, and eight changes of
congregational leadership.
Sister spent the
last four years of her life at the Villa where she continued to share the
kindness and peacefulness that had characterized all of her lifeÕs
relationships. The loving care and concern she had received from her parents
were the very gifts that she shared with all whom she met.
Sister died as she
lived surrounded by her loving family and friends. At her funeral liturgy,
Sister Agnes was remembered as one whose gift of life had nourished and
strengthened the lives of others and graced the history of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph for so many years. May
Sister Agnes Celeste rejoice forever in the loving presence of the God she so
generously served!
Sister Theresa
Connor (formerly Sister Martin Therese) 76, a beloved member of the Sisters of
Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill for 58 years, died on August 26, 2006 at St. Joseph
Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on August
31, 2006.
Born in
Philadelphia, the only daughter of Irish immigrants, Theresa attended
Resurrection School and graduated from St. Hubert High School in Philadelphia.
Before entering the Novitiate in 1948, Theresa worked as a secretary for one
year. Upon entrance, Sister Theresa continued her education and received a B.A.
Degree from Chestnut Hill College and an MBA from Temple University.
For ten years,
Sister Theresa taught students in elementary schools in the Archdioceses of
Baltimore and Philadelphia. After that, she taught high school students math
and science. In addition to her educational ministries, Sister Theresa served
as Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer of Chestnut Hill College for almost
fifteen years. For one very long year, she was both the Treasurer at Chestnut
Hill College and the Treasurer for the Sisters of Saint Joseph! After that, Sister Theresa served as
Congregational Treasurer until 1989. The Congregation is indebted to her for
providing the direction and resoluteness for financial planning that continues
to serve its needs. Her final years
in ministry were in parish services and as a staff member in the Finance
Office. She became a resident of St. Joseph Villa in April of 2006.
Sister Theresa
realized that her greatest lifelong education came from the experience of
working in her fatherÕs corner grocery store. Despite the intrusion into her
playtime, she learned some valuable lessons including graciousness to others,
organization and patience that stayed with her and benefited her in her
professional ministry throughout her life.
In all that she did
and accomplished, Sister Theresa desired no accolades or center stage, to say
the least. She never lost her
connection and sensitivity to each person, especially to those who needed her
assistance. For her, there were no dumb questions. She treated all inquiries
with the respect that she learned from her dear parents. May she now be receiving the reward
promised by our loving God!
Sister Mary Charles Bradley, SSJ 
Sister Mary Charles
Bradley (Agnes I. Bradley) a beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph for 69
years died at St. Joseph Villa on September 15, 2006. Her funeral mass was celebrated there on
September 20, 2006.
In 2002 Sister Mary
Charles recorded her living history and reflected on her full life which
included 53 years teaching business in various high schools in Philadelphia, McSherrystown, and Lebanon, PA and in Orange, NJ. Practical preparation for this ministry
as an SSJ came before she entered the congregation. After graduation from Hallahan Catholic High School she made the decision to help
her mother who had valiantly taken care of her and her two sisters and a
brother following her fatherÕs death when she was only nine. She spent 11 years
working as a stenographer before entering the congregation in January, 1937 at
the age of 28.
Sister Mary Charles
first met the Sisters of St. Joseph as an elementary student at St. MichaelÕs
and that relationship continued during her high school years at Hallahan. She
made special mention in her living history of Sister Clare Joseph, her English
teacher at Hallahan, whom she greatly admired.
Sharing her
experience of Sister Mary Charles shortly after she died, a friend noted that
Sister Mary embraced our founder, Fr. MedailleÕs
challenge to strive for Òthe more.Ó
ÒI think Mary took this seriously in every area of her life.Ó She remained in fulltime ministry until
age 77 and when she first went to the Villa in 1986 she helped in the business
office.
Sister Mary Charles
was well known for her hobbies. She
enjoyed doing anything with her hands:
art, design, lettering, crafts, sewing, typing-- as well as loving to
plant and tend a garden. She also
pursued enrichment courses in computer, calligraphy and religious studies at
Chestnut Hill College. Most
importantly by her very being she lived the SSJ mission of striving to unite
people with God and with one another.
In her living
history recorded when she was 93, Sister Mary concluded, ÒI enjoy each day as a
grateful recipient of wonderful nursing care. Too, I am looking forward to joining my
family who have preceded me to heaven, where I hope to partake of the
hundred-fold.Ó
The Sisters of St.
Joseph celebrate Sister Mary Charles Bradley, the wonderful work of GodÕs hand
and give thanks for her long life of wonderful works, rejoicing that she now
partakes of that hundredfold!
Sister Rose
Patricia, formerly Mary Hannon, died on September 26, 2006. She was a beloved
member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph for sixty-nine years and will be grieved
by them as well as by devoted members of her family.
Sister was born to
Mary Agnes and Michael Hannon and was one of nine children. Born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sister Rose spent most of her life there. Her
entire ministry as a Sister of Saint Joseph was devoted to elementary education
in the Philadelphia and Washington Archdioceses. One of her co-workers described her as a
Òwonderful woman and a terrific primary grade teacherÓ. Another reported that Òno matter how
many students she had in her class, there was always perfect order and
organizationÓ.
Throughout her
ministry, Sister Rose Patricia lived the gospel that was proclaimed at her
funeral liturgy. ÒTruly unless you change and become like a child you will
never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.Ó
When Sister Rose
retired to the Villa in 1988, she brought the same dedication and zeal to her
new role as a volunteer serving the elderly and the infirmed. She was always
generous with her time and focused on the needs of others. Her welcoming
presence helped other sisters as they transitioned to life at the Villa.
SisterÕs concern
for others and for the common good was always accompanied by a joyful and light
spirit which she learned early on in the Hannon family. Such was their family
spirit that at the time of Sister RoseÕs Silver Jubilee, her family hired a bus
so they could travel together. They knew that they would have more fun
traveling together than driving separately. When they arrived at the celebration,
they invited the bus driver to join the party. Like the rest of her siblings,
Sister Rose loved parties and she loved to dance Imagine her great joy as she danced into
the arms of the God whom she had welcomed so many times in the people she had
so generously served in GodÕs name..
Sister Kathleen
McDonough (formerly Sister James Robert) 81, a beloved member of the Sisters of
Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, PA for 62 years, died on September 29, 2006 at
University Hospital, Newark, NJ. A
Memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA on October 10,
2006.
Born in Montclair,
NJ, Sister Kathleen lived most of her life before and after entering the
congregation in North Arlington, NJ. At age six, she began her formal education
at Queen of Peace Elementary School there and graduated from Queen of Peace
High School in the same town. In
1944, Kathleen entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the sisters who had taught
her in both of the above-mentioned schools. Sister Kathleen earned an A.B. from
Chestnut Hill College and an M.A. in Religious Studies from La Salle College
(now University).
For 60 years,
Sister served elementary and secondary students both as a teacher and as a
library assistant in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Newark and in the
Diocese of Wilmington. However, her real love was her alma mater, Queen of
Peace High School where she served for the last 33 years of her life. During
part of that time, Kathleen cared for her mother, then her father, while
maintaining a full teaching schedule.
When it was time for her to leave teaching, Sister became an assistant
in the high school library.
In her simplicity,
Sister Kathleen would not have expected that her picture would be first on the
website for Queen of Peace High School and Church. In doing so, her beloved
parish honored her for her love and dedication. She had given so much to the
people there.
Sister Kathleen was
a teacher for the sixty years of her ministry and her plan to donate her body
to Robert Wood Johnson Medical School was a desire to continue teaching, even
in death.
To quote the Book
of Proverbs, ÒHer ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.Ó In
KathleenÕs spirit, we ask the Queen of Peace to ease our cares, to protect all
peoples and to bestow peace on all of earth. May our dear sister, Sister
Kathleen, rest in peace!
Sister Rose Therese Ormsby 
Sister Rose Therese
Ormsby, 84, a beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph
for 65 years, died on October 6, 2006 at St. Joseph Villa, where she had
resided since January, 2006.
A Memorial Mass was offered for her there on October 13, 2006. Sister Rose had chosen cremation; at a
later time her cremains will be buried with her sister, Sister Ernestine, who
died in 1973.
For 14 years
previous to her move to the Villa, Sister Rose had lived at St. AndrewÕs Senior
House in her beloved hometown of Bayonne, NJ where she had attended St. Vincent
de Paul Elementary School and Holy Family Academy. In her years at St. AndrewÕs she served
as secretary for the parish Religious Education Program. A second Memorial Mass for her was
celebrated at St. AndrewÕs Church on October 21, 2006.
In recording her
living history some years ago, Sister Rose identified a number of Sisters of
St. Joseph who impacted her decision to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph. First and foremost was her own
sister, Sister Ernestine who entered the community nine years before her. There were also Sisters Maria Cecilia
and Vera Theresa from St. VincentÕs, Bayonne as well as Sisters Gertrude de
Lourdes and Clare Leona of Holy Family Academy who were, she noted, especially
compassionate and helpful to her when her mother died during her junior year.
Sister Rose spent
almost her entire congregational life in education ministry. Her first 17 years on a mission were at
Ascension in Philadelphia. After
that, except for six years at Severna Park, MD and three years as Coordinator
of Housekeeping at Mt. St. Joseph Convent the rest of her years were spent in
New Jersey, including serving as
principal at St. Vincent de Paul, Mays Landing and Queen of Peace, North
Arlington.
In her living
history part of RoseÕs advice to new SSJ members was, ÒKeep a healthy sense of
humor and develop love of God and love of neighbor.Ó These were traits that endeared Rose
herself to so many sisters, students, co-workers, friends, and cherished family
members. Her sense of
humor—she loved to tease and be teased—her gift for storytelling,
and her love of song and fun were hallmarks of her unique and inclusive love.
Sister Dorothy
Urban, in her reflections at the Memorial Mass for Sister Rose on Oct. 13,
noted that Òit is her depth of spirituality that is the greatest legacy of
Sister Rose Therese.Ó St. Therese
of Lisieux held a most special place in RoseÕs heart
and she referred to her as Òmy prayerful companion.Ó
The Sisters of St.
Joseph rejoice that Sister Rose Therese Ormsby is
united forever with her companion, St. Therese, as well as with all her beloved
family members and friends who have gone before her. We cherish the gift of her fun loving spirit and her spiritual depth so wonderfully
combined in her life lived to the full!
Sister Anne Horan
(formerly Sister St. Philomena), 86, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 63 years, died on October 29, 2006 at St. Joseph
Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on
November 2, 2006.
Anne, the daughter
of Jennie and James Horan, attended St. Michael Grade School and John W. Hallahan Girls High School, both in Philadelphia. Anne was
very involved in parish life long before her entrance into religious life in
the fall of 1943. As a young girl, she organized and moderated the parish Girl
Scout troop. She was an outstanding leader who won the respect and admiration
of her scouts. Her example and kindness inspired six of them to follow her not
only in the scouting program but also directly into the Sisters of Saint
Joseph!
Sister Anne
received a Bachelors of Science degree from Chestnut Hill College and her
Masters of Arts degree from Villanova University. Her ministry experience was
quite diverse. Sister Anne began her teaching career in the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia and taught students in the Archdioceses of Baltimore and
Washington, DC, as well as in the Diocese of Raleigh. Over time, she served as
an elementary school principal, school librarian and parish minister. In addition,
Sister Anne served as a Regional Superior for the Congregation. Her last
ministry assignment was as local coordinator at St. Joseph Villa. Sister Anne
became a resident at the Villa in 1995.
Sister Anne was
gifted with a magnetic personality and smile that drew people to her; whenever
she organized an activity, her contagious enthusiasm drew support for whatever
the task.
Throughout her
life, Anne walked humbly with God. Sister Anne certainly knew herself. She was
aware of her gifts and limitations. She knew that God was with her. No wonder
she moved with such joy! She trusted herself. She had great common sense and
was not afraid to laugh at herself.
During the many
years of her illness, despite the slow dementia that came upon her, she remained
a woman of great love and joy. On Sunday, October 29, Sister Anne had a new
beginning, a beginning where now her heart burns in some mysterious way as she
moves with her God in gentleness, zeal and joy! We are grateful to God for the
gift of Sister Anne to all whose lives she touched.
Sister Elizabeth Mary Krimm 
Sister Elizabeth Mary,
formerly Dolores Krimm died on November 1, 2006 at Saint Joseph Villa. Sister
was a beloved member of the Sisters
of Saint Joseph for 75 years and will
be missed by members of her community as well as by her devoted family and friends.
Sister Elizabeth Mary was one of thirteen children born to John and Elizabeth Krimm. She was a member of Saint PeterÕs Parish in Philadelphia
formerly a German stronghold, now the shrine of Saint John Neumann. The Krimm home was
a house of religious formation. When the Angelus bell rang, the family gathered around
the table to pray the Angelus in
German. Weekly confession was an essential part of family life. No wonder that
Sister Elizabeth was not the only
vocation to religious life. Her brothers John and Bernard became Redemptorist
priests. Her sister Loretta (Sister
Walburga) was also a Sister of Saint Joseph. The faith that Sister learned in her home
supported her all her life.
In her family, Sister Elizabeth also discovered her love and talent for music. She
played for her brothers and
sisters. Her gift for music developed through her studies at Chestnut Hill
College and West Chester College and it
bore fruit in many years of music ministry. She was a traveling musician who taught music in ten
elementary and seven secondary
schools in five different dioceses. At one point she spent her summers at Little Flower
High School teaching students from
archdiocesan high school orchestras who came to learn and to practice. Her
welcoming way and her dry sense of
humor made the daily trips on the Broad Street Subway well worth the ride. Sister never
forgot the students she taught.
Years later she would greet them and remember where and when she had taught
them. At one high school, she
taught religion. The principal wanted Òa religion teacher who could do musicÓ. Sister
Elizabeth Mary replied that she was
a Òmusic teacher who could do religionÓ.
In her last years of active ministry, Sister made pastoral visits to the aged and infirmed.
She shared with them the same gifts
of care and encouragement which she had shared with so many others during her
lifetime of ministry. In her six years
at the Villa, she continued her ministry
of prayer and presence.
Sister Elizabeth witnessed and experienced so many changes in the world, the Church
and her religious community over
her long and fruitful lifetime. The
Vatican Council occurred about half way through her seventy-five years in the congregation. In times of
difficult transitions, Sister
relied on her faith in God, her devotion to Mary, and her close personal relationships
with the people she had served.
This resilient spirit enabled her to attend the celebration of her 75th Jubilee just two weeks
before her death. She came to
the Chapel enduring all her physical limitations to celebrate all that God had
given her and to ask GodÕs comfort
and healing.
Sister
Elizabeth Mary died on November 1st, the feast of All the Saints. Imagine
heavenÕs delight in welcoming to
the celebration one who had made music
all her life.
Sister Agnes Imelda
Driscoll, age 86, a beloved Sister of St. Joseph for 68 years, died on Nov. 8,
2006 at St. Joseph Villa where she had resided since 2002. Her funeral
Mass was celebrated there on November 14, 2006.
Sister Agnes, a
Bayonne, NJ native and the second youngest of nine children, was educated there
by the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School and at
Holy Family Academy. She recalled in later years wonderful memories of
gatherings of extended family members and friends at her family home, which was
always a center of activity both when she was growing up and in her adult life.
Among her extended family are SSJ cousins Sisters Anne Winkleman
and Pat Finnerty who recount being inspired from
their earliest years by AgnesÕs infectious love for life and joy in being a Sister
of St. Joseph.
Sister AgnesÕs love
for life touched many others in her many years in educational ministry, most of
them spent teaching very young children. She served at St. TimothyÕs, St.
ColumbaÕs, Cathedral, and St. AnnÕs in Philadelphia and in New Jersey at Our
Lady of Mercy, Jersey City, St. AndrewÕs, Bayonne, Our Lady of the Valley,
Orange, and St. RoseÕs, Belmar. Sister Agnes often shared stories about
her years at Cathedral during the 1950Õs and early 60Õs; she was happy to
return there as principal in 1978.
In their later
years Sister Agnes helped to care for her parents and older siblings. She
experienced deep personal loss as each of her immediate family members passed
away.
Throughout her life
Sister Agnes loved the seashore; her niece Margie recalls wonderful Òmystery
toursÓ with her Aunt Agnes which would always end up at some shore resort
–one being the SSJ Retreat House at Cape May Point. Margie
remembers, too, sharing in AgnesÕs joy when she Òfinally made it to a seashore
mission.Ó In 1991 she went to St. Rose, Belmar where, until becoming a
resident at the Villa in 2002, she continued to enjoy the ocean she loved so
much and to share her laughter and infectious love for life.
The Sisters of St.
Joseph are grateful for Sister Agnes DriscollÕs life lived to the full and
shared so generously with our Congregation, our church, and our world.
Sister Isabel Friel 
Sister Isabel Friel, formerly Sister Joseph Isabel, died on November 23,
2006 at Saint Joseph Villa, in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. Sister is
survived by her sister-in-law, Sue, and two generations of nieces and nephews.
She is remembered fondly by members of the Sisters of Saint Joseph with whom
she lived and worked through sixty-eight years of religious life.
Isabel was one of
four children born to Joseph and Edith (Berkheiser) Friel. She was born and raised in Philadelphia. Two years
after graduating from West Catholic High School, Isabel joined the Sisters of
Saint Joseph. In joining the community, Isabel followed in the footsteps of her
aunt, Mother Saint Leo Friel, and prepared the way
for her cousin, Sister Judith Oliver.
Sister Isabel
continued her studies earning a Bachelor Degree in Education from Villanova
University and a Masters Degree in Religious Education from Saint Charles
Seminary. She spent most of her life ministering to Junior High School students
in the dioceses of Baltimore, Philadelphia, Trenton, Wilmington, Delaware and
Charlotte, North Carolina. After almost 40 years in fulltime teaching, Isabel
launched a second career as a school librarian. She took courses in library
science and spent her summers and free time processing books. Using all the
skills she had refined as a teacher, she organized a library that became a wonderful
learning space for the entire school.
Isabel had many
facets to her personality. She loved a good time and had a contagious laugh.
There was also a great deal of introversion and introspection in Isabel.
Although she never did serious art, she had many artistic traits. She had an
artistÕs eye and an ability to create with her hands. Crocheting and
hairdressing were favorite hobbies. She is remembered for her sensitivity, her
kindness, and her welcoming spirit.
Isabel loved her
summer retreats at Cape May. The ocean helped her feel close to God. She loved
its beauty and strength, its calm and quiet. She described her spirituality as
one of surrender to God. She felt called to a life of simplicity. She wanted
Òwhat you want, dear LordÓ.
The following poem
by Sister Madeleva, a Sister of the Holy Cross, was
read during a Remembrance Service for Sister Isabel and again at her Funeral
Liturgy. The poem seems so fitting for Isabel, the life she lived, and the God
she loved.
Travel Song
Know you the journey that I take?
Know you the voyage that I make?
The joy of it – oneÕs heart could
break.
No jot of time have I to spare,
Nor will to loiter anywhere,
So eager am I to be there
For that the way is hard and long,
For that gray fears upon it throng,
I set my journey to the song
And it grows wondrous happy so
Singing I hurry on for –oh!
It is to God, to God I go.
2007
Sister Margaret Rosarii Queenan 
Sister Margaret Rosarii (Margaret Queenan) 86,a
beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 68 years,
died on January 22, 2007 at Saint Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of
Christian Burial was celebrated there on January 26, 2007.
S. Margaret
attributed the influence of her family for enhancing her faith and drawing her
to accept a call to religious life.
The daughter of John and Margaret, Irish immigrants, Margaret was born
in Philadelphia, where she attended Visitation Elementary School and John W. Hallahan High School. After entering the congregation in 1939,
Margaret received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College and
a M.A. in Education from Seton Hall University.
For 60 years,
Sister Margaret ministered to elementary school students, serving as teacher
and principal in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Newark and in the Diocese
of Allentown. Margaret said that the years that she spent with little ones were
her Camelot. Among her many accomplishments during those active years included
founding a new school and being a national delegate for primary education. She
received a commendation from the Archdiocese of Newark for her ÒChrist-like
zeal and devotionÓ toward the establishment of an educational organization unit
for teachers.
When it was time
for her to leave the educational ministry, Margaret offered service in the
Saint Joseph Guild office and in the Congregational Finance Office where she
was always a healing presence.
Courageously she said,ÓTo change is to growÓ
and she attributed all of her abilities to embrace such challenging works to
GodÕs Providence always at work in her.
Gifted with a
pleasant disposition, Sister Margaret was loved by those who lived with her,
those who had the privilege to minister with her, and most especially by her
family who were so present to her in life and in her illness.
The Sisters of
Saint Joseph celebrate the life of Sister Margaret Rosarii
and thank God for the witness of faithful love that she so willingly offered
throughout her life. Rest in the arms of our loving God, dear Margaret!
Sister Rose Veronica Kotzman 
Sister Rose
Veronica, 91, a beloved Sister of St. Joseph for 73 years died on February 4,
2007 at St. Joseph Villa where she had resided since 1994. Her funeral mass was celebrated there on
February 8, 2007.
Mary Jane Kotzman, born in West Virginia, was the third of ten
children. After her family moved to
York, PA she encountered the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Rose Parish
there. In her own telling she said
that she Òhad a yearning within for more fulfillment in lifeÓ and at the age of
19 that yearning led her to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph in January,
1934. A great joy and surprise
of Sister RoseÕs life as a Sister
of St. Joseph came many years later when her own sister Barbara, who was only 2
yrs. old when she had left home, joined her and entered the community in 1952.
Speaking of her 42
years in teaching, Sister Rose described her experiences as exciting and
fulfilling. Twenty-two of those
years were spent teaching first graders.
All of her places of ministry as a teacher were in Pennsylvania and
included Sacred Heart, Conewago, St. VincentÕs,
Hanover, St. GabrielÕs, Norwood, Epiphany in both Philadelphia and Plymouth,
O.L. of Perpetual Help, Bethlehem and Annunciation, McSherrystown.
Sister Rose also
spent close to four years at home caring for her father, meeting and learning
from the challenges of this new experience. It was following this that she began
ministering at St. Francis Inn, spending ten years there witnessing the daily
life and struggle of the poor and serving their needs. In reflecting on this time she said,
ÒThe time at St. Francis was growth-filled. This is where I really learned to let go
and let God in my life even more.
There I met GodÕs poor.Ó
She, along with
Sister Mary Flora, in a commendation received for their work at the Inn were
described thus: ÒThey are an
integral part of our workÉthey are so faithful, so caring, and both so full of
love for the homeless, the poor, and, of course, for us Franciscans.Ó (Rev.
Michael Duffy, OFM)
Again Òready for
any good workÓ Sister Rose, after her ministry time at the Inn, continued at
St. AnnÕs Convent offering services to support the life of the community
there. It was from there that she
moved to the Villa in 1994—another new beginning in her life. In reflecting on her years at the Villa
she saw them as an Òopportunity to share, listen, help, and grow in my life.Ó
At the time of
recording her living history, Sister Rose was asked what advice she would offer
to new members. Her reply: Pray for
perseverance and gather your strength from all those who have gone before
youÉMost of all, stay as close to God as fish to water.Ó
This is cherished
advice for all Sisters of St. Joseph.
We gather strength from the example of openness and care and the
generous response to all GodÕs invitations throughout the long and fulfilling
life of our dear Sister Rose Veronica Kotzman.
Sister Margaret Ann Rothwell 
Sister Margaret Ann
Rothwell, formerly Sister Saint Margaret died at
Saint Joseph Villa on February 5, 2007. She was a beloved member of the Sisters
of Saint Joseph for sixty-nine years and will be missed by members of her
community as well as by her devoted family and friends.
Margaret was born
in Philadelphia to Thomas and Marie (Brennan) Rothwell.
From them she learned to appreciate beauty and to love learning. In her family,
Margaret first experienced the values which would shape her life: her
dedication to growth and study, the sharing of faith and beauty, and the
willingness to embrace new adventures.
Sister earned two
degrees from Chestnut Hill College. After earning a masters degree in the
Philosophy of Education from Catholic University, she taught there for several
summers. Sister spent sixty years in the ministry of education, first as an
elementary school teacher and then she was among the first to assume the role
of Director of Religious Education. Sister served in the dioceses of Allentown,
Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
She was one of the first Coordinators of the teaching of religion in
elementary schools for the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Through these ministries
and through the text, Life, Love, and Joy which Margaret authored, she
influenced many lives and expanded the field of religious education.
The message of
Jesus was at the heart of her mission and she shared her faith with children,
adolescents, parents, and teachers. She had the special gift of relating to
everybody, young and old in a cheerful, faith-filled way. She taught by word
and example and inspired others to do the same. The integrity with which
Margaret lived her life as a woman religious in a changing church was both a
comfort and a challenge to those whom she mentored.
Margaret became a
resident of Saint Joseph Villa in 1997. There she continued to teach by word
and example. She was happy to help in any way she could. Hers was a gentle,
faith-filled presence.
At her funeral
Margaret was praised as a living document of this quote from her congregationÕs
Constitution: ÒTo make Christ visible to the world, we embrace our contemporary
situation at that moment of salvation history in which God makes us responsible
for participating in the life and mission of the ChurchÓ. Well done, Margaret,
faithful servant!
Sister Catharine T. Fee 
Sister Catharine T.
Fee (formerly Sister M. Consilii) 73, a beloved
member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 53 years, died on
March 2, 2007 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian burial was
celebrated there on March 6, 2007.
There are very few
SSJÕs who have spent their entire lives in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia but
S. Catharine Theresa Agnes Fee was one of them! A true Philadelphian, Catharine, the
daughter of John and Rita Fee, was born there. She attended Our Mother of
Sorrows Elementary School and West Catholic High School for Girls, both in West
Philadelphia. After entering the Congregation in 1953, Catharine earned
undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics, the first from Chestnut Hill
College, the second from Villanova University. In ministry, she taught elementary
school students and then for a number of years she taught young women in high
school in several schools. In 1988,
Cass began her service at Chestnut Hill College. During her almost twenty years
there, Cass served first as Registrar and then as Associate Dean for Academic
Advising.
The Sisters of
Saint Joseph believe that being an SSJ is all about relationships, about the
quality of our presence in any and all situations.
S. Catharine was
about relationships on all levels-within the Congregation, with her family,
with those she encountered in ministry. She connected with people wherever she
went. Cass treasured her time with
people, especially with her sisters, Rita, Fran and Sister Mary. She was most
interested in what was happening in the lives of her nieces and nephews and her
happiness was increased with the arrival of her grandnephews and grandniece.
Cass was happy that her niece, Theresa Hayburn,
joined her and her sister Mary as a Sister of Saint Joseph.
This avid sports
fan was a long-suffering Philadelphia Phillies fan and a Villanova Wildcats
supporter but she had a true love for the Emerald Isle. Cass had an affinity
for everything Irish and was surrounded by symbols of that land when it was
time to greet the God she had lovingly served for so many years. In the words
of the Irish songwriter, we ask God to Òbathe her in your loveÓ forever.
Sister Ann Edward Bennis 
Sister Ann Edward,
formerly Anna Marie Bennis, died on March 5, 2007.
Sister is mourned in death by all those who loved her in life: her sisters,
Madeleine Degnan and Sister Anna Josephine, three
generations of nieces and nephews, a wide circle of friends, and members of the
Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Ann Edward
was one of six children born to Edward and Anna (Normile)
Bennis in the Immaculate Conception Parish in
Germantown. From the beginning hers
was a missionary spirit, but she lived most of her life in Philadelphia.
Through her experiences of life, literature, and travel she became a citizen of
the world.
In 1930 at seventeen she cast her lot
with the Sisters of St. Joseph who had taught her at Hallahan
High School. Sister Ann Edward received her undergraduate degree from Chestnut
Hill College and her Masters from The Catholic University of America. She also
had the opportunity to study in Europe and traveled extensively.
Sister spent her
life in the ministry of education, first teaching at St. MaryÕs Academy and then
for short stints at Hallahan and Cecilian.
In 1945, Sister joined the faculty of Chestnut Hill College where she nurtured
generations of women to be leaders, writers, and thinkers. She especially
enjoyed teaching young sisters who would come to her class on Saturdays and for
summer-school sessions. She was a challenging teacher who encouraged students
to know more, do more, and be more.
For many, Sister Ann EdwardÕs name became synonymous with the mission of
the College, which she loved for over fifty years.
Her teaching was
not confined to a classroom. For three years, Sister Ann Edward taught both men
and women at Holmesburg Prison. Beginning in 1993,
she traveled each week to the Southwest Philadelphia Community Center to read
to the elderly people gathered there. She received an award for her generous
and gracious service to this retirement community.
Sister Ann Edward
was also a brilliant scholar. Awards for scholarship dotted her career. She
published numerous articles and translated from the French, The Martyrs of Privas, the story of the
early Sisters of St. Joseph who were martyred at the guillotine. She was the
first woman to have an article published in Homiletic Review. She gathered wonderful anthologies of Black,
Irish, and Women writers.
Sister Ann EdwardÕs
life was all about relationship.
She saw beauty in each person. Those who were rich and famous, those
poor and forgotten, all had a share in her life and her ministry. Her sister,
Sister Anna Josephine describes her as one Òwhose unique personality radiates
to all she meets. She makes people feel welcome, fusses over guests, tells
great stories and enthralls her listeners. She is dynamic with a flair for the
fabulous. She has a five-track mind with heavy traffic speeding in every lane.
She never, ever complains about her health or her age. She has perennial
youth.Ó
Sister Ann Edward Bennis, who loved life and lived it to the full, now enjoys eternal life. Imagine
the stories sheÕll tell!
Sister Letitia
McBride (Eleanor Mary McBride), died at St. Joseph Villa on Holy Thursday,
April 5, 2007 just days after the 70th anniversary (March 30) of her
reception into the congregation.
Her funeral Mass was celebrated there on April 10, 2007.
Eleanor Mary was
the only daughter of William and Ellen McBride and, along with her two older
brothers, attended St. RobertÕs School, Chester, PA where she fondly recalled
being taught by Sister Francis Xavier in grades 3, 4, 6, and 7. The tragic loss of her brother
Bill, who was
struck by lightening and died at age 14, brought Sister Catherine Regina into
the life of the McBride family in a very significant way as she reached out to
them with loving care and support.
She also became EleanorÕs teacher at St. RobertÕs High School.
In her living
history she recalled these early influences and how she would pray at the grave
of her brother that she would become a Sister of St. Joseph. So it was that Eleanor McBride, with the proud recommendation
of the pastor, became in 1936 the
first graduate of St. RobertÕs High School to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Letitia,
fondly known as Letty, was in a variety of ministry
settings over the years spanning 1938 to 1999 when she became a resident at St.
Joseph Villa. Her undergraduate
degree from Chestnut Hill College was in Music and she earned a MasterÕs degree
in Religious Studies at LaSalle College.
In five elementary schools as well as six high schools she proved
herself a dedicated teacher. One of
her former principals noted that she was Òcooperative and friendly with her
co-workers and always open to ministry ideas.Ó She extended her presence to various
parish involvements and was always Òready for any good work.Ó Sister Letitia was diligent about
obtaining frequent updating in both music and religious studies. Along with the knowledge and skills that
she brought to her students, the values of prayer and respect were an integral
part of her teaching.
After 50 years in
diverse teaching assignments, Sister Letitia joined the office staff at
Archbishop Ryan High School where she continued to minister with love and
faithfulness until her move to the Villa in 1999. Her death there on Holy Thursday, 2007
was truly GodÕs embrace of one who had held fast to GodÕs call and followed it
unreservedly. May
Sister Letitia
McBride ever glory in the cross of Christ and the triumph of GodÕs great
love!
Sister Mary Aquin OÕKeefe 
Sister Mary Aquin
(Catherine M. OÕKeefe) 88, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 70 years, died on April 24, 2007 at St. Joseph
Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on May 1,
2007.
Born in
Philadelphia, Catherine was the daughter of Thomas and Mabel OÕKeefe. In the
first grade at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catherine first encountered the
Sisters of Saint Joseph. When her family moved, she attended and graduated
from, St. Joan of Arc School. From there, it was on to John W, Hallahan High School where she again met up with the
SSJÕs. These women had been
extremely kind to her family and she often repeated what she described as the
loving kindness of the Sisters, particularly at the death of her mother.
In 1936, Catharine
entered the Congregation and soon began her teaching ministry in the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where she spent all but four years of her life.
Sister Mary enjoyed teaching elementary school children but she really found
great satisfaction teaching young women in high school. In her later years, Sister Mary
volunteered doing office work. With conviction, she eagerly passed on to
students, family and other SSJÕs what was important to her and beneficial to
others. In all of her ministries, she offered the youth that surrounded her
joy, direction, blessing and support.
Her education at
Villanova University and The Catholic University prepared her well for her
ministry but other events prepared her for life. Throughout her life, Sister
Mary relied heavily on GodÕs Providence and responded to all that she was asked
to do with a deep faith. For her,
nothing was impossible with GodÕs grace. In a reflection that she wrote on her
life, she quipped ÒWho could be richer?Ó She counted among her treasures her
family, her friends and her congregation. She also wrote that daily she thanked
God that His push was stronger than her pull and that she answered a call. The
last line in her autobiography reads
ÓThanks again, God, for calling me to be a Sister of Saint Joseph.Ó How grateful so many are that she
did! Thank you, Sister Mary Aquin, for your life and love among us.
Sister Annmarie Regis Ferry 
Sister Annmarie Regis
Ferry, age 73, died at St. Joseph Villa on April 29, 2007. Her funeral mass was celebrated there on
May 3. 2007.
AnnmarieÕs
roots trace back to Ireland where both of her parents were born and to Bayonne,
NJ where she was born and raised.
Her SSJ connections began at St. AndrewÕs, Bayonne where she attended
elementary school and were deepened during her four years at Holy Family
Academy. Shortly after graduating
from Holy Family she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1951. She always remained very proud of both
her Irish and Bayonne roots, treasuring family and especially in recent years,
her nephews Jackie and Bill, her niece, Annmarie, and
her SSJ cousin, Sister Mary Rose Dugan.
For 56 years Annmarie
lived a full life of commitment serving the Òdear neighborÓ primarily through
her ministry as a classroom teacher in many elementary and secondary schools in
both NJ and PA. She also served as
librarian, first at Sacred Heart High School, Vineland and then for six years at
Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia. AnnmarieÕs
years as librarian and 20+ years of teaching high school English gave her a
venue for sharing her great love of literature and inspiring others to a
similar appreciation.
Well read and gifted with a keen intellect and wit,
Annmarie especially enjoyed lively conversation and
her favorite TV show, ÒJeopardy.Ó She was not limited as a viewer from entering
–and often excelling—in the competition! A highlight of AnnmarieÕs
life was her 1983 experience of participating in a two week Irish Literature
course at Trinity College, Dublin.
This also provided her the opportunity to visit some of her Irish
relatives.
After one year at her first mission, Corpus
Christi, Annmarie then spent four years at Ascension,
Philadelphia in her early years of religious life. Her last 11 years were also spent at
Ascension, the first six of those while she was ministering at Northeast
Catholic.
Having traveled full circle, illness brought Annmarie to the Villa at the beginning of Advent, 2006,
just five months before her death.
In the fullness of the Easter season God called her to her final
home.
In living the Paschal Mystery, Annmarie
embraced again and again, the call of our community prayer which she so deeply
loved: ÒÉto surrender, to stand open and powerless, completely dependent upon
Jesus.Ó The Sisters of St. Joseph
rejoice that Sister Annmarie Regis Ferry now
experiences the peace of one who has surrendered finally and forever; the
blessed peace of one who resides eternally in the love of the Risen Jesus.
Sister Helen Christi Matsinger 
Sister Helen
Christi (Helen Matsinger) 85, a beloved Sister of
Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 68 years, died on May 10, 2007 at St. Joseph
Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated there on May
15, 2007.
Born in
Philadelphia, Helen attended Corpus Christi School and Holy Souls Commercial
School both in that city. Helen became a competent secretary, working for two
years before following her sister Marie (S. Jane Immaculate) into the
Congregation in September of 1939.
On her Reception Day, Helen and her family were delighted that her
religious name contained both the name of her beloved home parish, Corpus
Christi, as well as her baptismal name.
Often, as children, Helen and her sister, Marie, could be found doing
whatever needed to be done in the convent at Corpus Christi. She had close ties
to the many girls who entered the Congregation from that parish and bonded with
them throughout her life in community.
A graduate of
Villanova University, Sister Helen taught elementary school students for 50
years. She shared her gifts as an
educational specialist with students of the Archdioceses of Newark and
Philadelphia and the Dioceses of Allentown, Trenton and Paterson. At different points in her years in
ministry, S. Helen was a teacher, reading specialist, tutor, and principal. In
the latter years of her ministry, she visited the sick and brought Communion to
the homebound in Ambler. At the Villa, she continued to meet the needs of
others by helping the residents get to the hairdressers and by delivering mail
to them. Both of these jobs helped
to lift the spirits of the Villa residents.
Relationships were
important to Helen. She was very close to her sister Jane, her brother-in-law
Jim and their children. She never tired of talking about them and their
accomplishments. However, Marie and Helen shared the bond of community. Both S.
Jane Immaculate and S. Helen were missioned to the Villa in 2001. Helen was
very faithful and attentive to the needs of her sister until her sisterÕs death
in early 2006.
Truly, S. Helen
Christi was ready for any good work! Thank you, Helen, for your wonderful
example, and for living a life of love, prayer and service these many years!
Sister Rita Eileen
(Catherine T. Cavanagh) 89, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 70 years, died on May 17, 2007 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on May 23, 2007.
Catherine, the
middle daughter of Irish parents, John and Cassie Cavanagh, was born in New
York City. The Cavanagh girls began their education with the Newburgh
Dominicans in New York but enrolled at Our Mother of Consolation School,
Chestnut Hill when the family moved to Philadelphia.
It was there that
Catherine met Sister Divine Child and the Sisters of Saint Joseph and the seed
for her vocation was planted. It
was on to John W. Hallahan High School, also in
Philadelphia, where ÒBootsÓ, as she was affectionately known, was very involved
with the activities of the school, especially sports. After working at Sears
for a year, Catherine entered the Congregation in 1937 where she became S. Rita
Eileen.
S. Rita received a
Bachelors of Science degree in Education from Villanova University. Throughout
her years in active ministry, she used her skills in elementary classrooms
throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and in the Dioceses of Allentown,
Trenton and Wilmington. S. Rita enjoyed teaching children of different ages in
various settings. She was comfortable in the city, in the suburbs and
especially at the seashore. Rita once taught 95 children in a double grade
class!
When her days as a
classroom teacher ended, S. Rita made herself available to assist high school
students in the library. As the health of her two beloved sisters declined, S.
Rita was there to help and support them until their deaths, which were only
three months apart. Shortly after
those significant losses, S. Rita, after prayer and discernment, requested to
become a resident at St. Joseph Villa in 2000.
Never one to be
idle, Rita rendered whatever service she could at the Villa and made afghans
and other items for the Villa Gift Shop. In reflecting about her life at the
Villa, Rita quoted from the gospel of the Transfiguration, ÒLord, it is good
for me to be here.Ó We trust
that at her death, her beloved sisters, both her blood sisters and her sisters
in community, along with the God she served so lovingly, welcomed her with open
arms to her reward for a life of generosity and faithfulness.
Sister Leonore Bauer 
Sister Leonore Bauer, formerly Dolorosa Venantia
Bauer, died on May 12, 2007. Sister is survived by her siblings: Mary, Dorothy,
Charles, William, and Edward and nieces and nephews to the second generation.
In addition to her family, she is mourned by many friends, former students, and
members of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Leonore was the seventh of eight children born to Joseph
and Mary (McCool) Bauer. Along with her parents, she is predeceased by her
brothers, Joseph and Paul.
Sister entered the
Sisters of St. Joseph on September 12, 1947 and died in the 60th
year of her religious life. Sister earned a degree in Elementary Education from
Chestnut Hill College and spent all her life ministering to GodÕs little ones.
Her presence and ministry enriched the dioceses of Allentown, Harrisburg,
Newark, and Philadelphia.
Sister Leonore loved her ministry with little children. She
enjoyed their simplicity, their questions, and their sharings.
ÒThese childrenÓ, she said, Òenergize and confirm for me GodÕs great love for
them, for myself, and for all of us.Ó Sister worked to help children balance their
individual needs with the common good of all their classmates. This was the
balance that Sister herself lived in many ways. Simplicity, faithfulness, dedication,
and kindness shaped Sister LeonoreÕs life and
nurtured and sustained all her relationships.
During the funeral
Mass celebrated at St. Joseph Villa, Sister Ethelyn
Tucker, C.P.S. quoted from St. MarkÕs gospel. ÒLet the little children come to
me; do not stop them for it is to such as these that the Reign of God belongs.Ó
Sister Leonore spent her life welcoming children in
JesusÕ name. Now may she truly
experience GodÕs touch and embrace as she is welcomed into GodÕs presence by
all who have gone before her.
Sister
Pierre Madeleine Kiernan 
S. Pierre Madeleine Kiernan, a beloved Sister of St. Joseph for 65 years, died at St. Joseph Villa on May 19, 2007. Her funeral mass was celebrated there on May 24, 2007.
Helen Rose Kiernan was born on July 2, 1923 to John and Alma Kiernan in Newark, NJ. Her family, including brothers George and Jack and sister Madeleine, moved to North Arlington, NJ when Helen Rose was eight years old. It was there that S. Pierre met the Sisters of St. Joseph when she was enrolled at Queen of Peace Elementary School. In later years S. Pierre remembered fondly S. Rita Dolorine, her first SSJ teacher and attributed the seeds of her vocation to these early years.
Another favorite childhood experience that S. Pierre recounted was her motherÕs conversion from the Dutch Reformed Religion to Catholicism when S. Pierre was five years old. ÒI was present when she received all the sacraments,Ó she happily recalled.
S. Pierre earned a degree in education from Villanova University; all of her 45 classroom years were spent teaching first grade. Except for eight early years in Philadelphia she ministered with great dedication in schools in various central and north Jersey locations. When asked about her lifeÕs work she responded, ÒI found teaching most fulfilling!Ó
Her fulltime teaching years were followed by serving for five years as cook at St. AndrewÕs, Bayonne—a skill she had honed with great delight to the pleasure of many over the years—sisters, family, friends and the homeless for whom she had prepared meals weekly when serving in Bayonne, NJ.
A very significant time of S. PierreÕs life were the years she spent caring for her sister Madeleine from 1992 until her death in 1998. It was following MadeleineÕs death that she became a resident at St. Joseph Villa. In her 9 ½ years there S. Pierre brought her gifts of prayerfulness, generosity, and good humor to all at the Villa. ÒHer optimistic outlook on life is quite evident and wherever she is you are sure to hear laughter,Ó was the way one fellow resident described S. PierreÕs caring presence.
S. Pierre was an integral part of the Chapter House of Prayer experience from its inception for the 1979 Chapter to the most recent Chapter 2004 House of Prayer—five chapters spanning 25 years. It was a most precious and meaningful form of participation for Pierre.
When asked what advice she would give to our newest members, S. Pierre responded, ÒI would tell them not to look ahead but learn to live in the present moment with a joy-filled heart and thanksgiving to God for calling them.Ó These words as well as the lived witness of S. Pierre Madeleine KiernanÕs full and dedicated life are a wonderful legacy and inspiration to all Sisters of St. Joseph!
Sister Dorothy Emig 
Sister Dorothy
Marie Emig, formerly Sister Euphrasia,
died at Saint Joseph Villa, Flourtown on May 24, 2007. Sister is mourned by her
family, friends, former students, parishioners, and members of the Sisters of
Saint Joseph.
Dorothy was born in
Philadelphia to George and Louise (Spang) Emig. She grew up in Saint Stephen Parish and attended both
Hallahan and Little Flower high schools.
A year after
graduation, Dorothy joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph who had been her
mentors. At that time her pastor, Reverend William McNally, wrote: ÒDorothy is
a devout, intelligent and cultured person and enjoys a splendid reputation. She
is most attentive to her religious duties, and is at all times willing to help
in parish activities.Ó
That same spirit of
ardent faith and generous participation shaped the way Dorothy lived her
religious life and ministry for sixty-five years. Her ministry included fifty years of
teaching students in elementary and secondary schools in the dioceses of
Camden, Newark, and Philadelphia. In later years Dorothy continued to share her
gifts and talents through academic support services, parish services, and
ministry in her local community.
Throughout her
life, Dorothy pursued her own academic development by earning her undergraduate
degree from Chestnut Hill College and a Masters Degree in Religion from Saint
Bonaventure University.
Dorothy lived her
life with fidelity, patience, and generosity. May she be welcomed by all who have gone
before her and remembered by those she leaves behind.
Sister Frances Bernadette Dolan 
S. Frances Bernadette Dolan (Grace Dolan), a beloved Sister of St. Joseph for 72 years died at St. Joseph Villa on May 24, 2007. She was just one month away from her 90th birthday. Her funeral Mass was celebrated there on May 29; Msgr. Joseph Di Mauro, a former student of S. Frances at Wildwood Catholic, presided at the Mass. All present who have served at St. Mary by the Sea formed an honor guard as S. FrancesÕs body was brought from the chapel to the cemetery.
S. Frances Bernadette spent 36 summers at St. MaryÕs by the Sea, Cape May Point, beginning in 1967 when S. St. Emily requested that she join the summer staff. For 17 of those years she was house director. In a Òliving historyÓ interview in 2002 she succinctly summed up her ministry there by stating, ÒI am most grateful to both God and my Community for this haven of spirituality, beauty, and place of service.Ó
As classroom teacher for 40 years and as fulltime librarian for 20 years, S. Frances devoted herself with zeal and great love to the ministry of education. After her early years in elementary school, she served as a home economics teacher and librarian in high schools in Wildwood, NJ, Easton, PA, Wilmington, DE, and Bethlehem, PA. She was a resident at St. Joseph Villa for less than a year having moved there on June 28, 2006.
A cancer survivor, S. Frances recalled that a doctor once told her she had nine lives. ÒThe only trouble is he didnÕt tell me which one I was on!Ó she quipped. She added that both of her sisters had died at age 65. Her nieces and nephews remained bonded to her and they and her great nieces and nephews kept vigil with their Aunt Grace in her final days. Along with villa staff and residents they too were an Òhonor guardÓ as S. Frances achieved her ÒninthÓ and everlasting life.
At her funeral mass, Council member S. Dot Urban, reflected on the life of S. Frances Bernadette: ÒFrances was consecrated to God through her vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. She lived the daily grace of vows, and her gratitude for such blessing spilled over into every action. Sisters who lived with her through the years, coworkers in schools, parishes, and at Cape May were lightened and brightened by her sense of humor, beautiful smile, and thoughtful concern for every aspect of life.Ó
The Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate the living, dying, and rising of S. Frances Bernadette Dolan and all the ways she made the SSJ charism come alive through her faithful and full Ònine lives!Ó
Sister Lawrence
Joseph (Kathleen Murphy) 83, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 64 years, died on June 11, 2007 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on June 14, 2007.
Born in Bethlehem,
PA to Lawrence and Elizabeth Murphy, Kathleen came from a loving family with
four sisters and one brother, Father Larry. Kathleen attended Holy Infancy
Elementary School and Bethlehem Catholic High School before entering the
Congregation in 1943. In a reflection, S. Lawrence noted that her mother had
had a significant impact on her vocation. She prayed for KathleenÕs vocation
and God acted in her daughterÕs life. Her decision to become an SSJ was
solidified returning from a basketball game when she saw the sisters praying
quietly in the back of the bus. ÒSo
it came to me on a bus!Ó, she shared.
With a BachelorÕs
Degree from Chestnut Hill College, S. Lawrence served in diverse ministries and
each brought her joy and satisfaction.
For 31 years, S. Lawrence taught elementary and secondary school
students in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Newark and Philadelphia as well as
in the Dioceses of Harrisburg and Wilmington. In 1976, S. Lawrence became the
sacristan at Mount Saint Joseph Convent.
During that time, she began taking workshops to prepare her to become
the Congregational Archivist. In 1989, she was appointed Archivist and served
in that capacity until becoming a resident at the Villa in 2001.
This woman of
prayer was devoted to St. Patrick. In addition, she had a great love for St.
John Neumann and was so proud of his close connection to the Congregation. She
believed that if you trusted, God would lead you. That is how she lived her
life, trusting in God and GodÕs leading. We trust that she went home to God
with a heart filled with peace, love, gratitude and deep trust!
Sister Florence Bentivoglio 
Sister Florence Bentivoglio,
formerly Sister Joseph Elizabeth, died at St. Joseph Villa on June 21, 2007.
She is mourned by members of her loving family and by the Sisters of Saint
Joseph with whom she lived and worked for sixty-eight years.
Florence was the sixth of seven children
born to Joseph and Mary (Bonan) Bentivoglio.
Her parents were Austrian immigrants who settled in Branchdale,
Pennsylvania. Here, they and their children became active members of St. Mary
Star of the Sea Parish. When Florence joined the Sisters of St. Joseph, she
brought with her the high praises of her parish priest who wrote: ÒI feel no
hesitation in recommending Florence as a candidate for your order. I am
convinced that she has what it takes, good common sense and a solid piety. I
can speak for her generosity and her special unselfish devotionÓ.
Generosity and devotion shaped FlorenceÕs
life and ministry. She dedicated over 50 years of her life to primary school
students. She taught in the dioceses of Allentown, Baltimore, Charlotte,
Harrisburg, and Philadelphia. Along with the curriculum, her
children learned valuable life lessons. One of her principals remembers how
Florence always encouraged her students to share a piece of whatever pretzel or
candy they had with another child. What a profound lesson to learn at such an
early age!
FlorenceÕs influence was not limited to
the classroom. She reached beyond the students to touch their parents.
Sometimes this meant crossing the frontiers of language and culture. Parents
always understood the love and concern that Florence had for their
children. Florence knew the members of the parish and the people in the
neighborhood. When Florence returned to a former mission, she had a list of
friends to visit. People never forgot her kindness and generosity.
In December of 2006, the pastor of St.
Vincent de Paul Parish in Minersville, Pennsylvania, FlorenceÕs last mission,
published this in the parish newsletter. ÒAmong our singular blessings in the
greater Minersville area is one Sister Florence Bentivoglio.
She has served us for over 60 years. Such is the Lord JesusÕ way of showing in
Sister Florence His own providential love and care for us. Sister Florence, we
love you. We thank you. It is impossible to repay the gift you have given us
and so many of GodÕs people – a life of service – except to imitate
your generous service with our ownÓ.
FlorenceÕs love for the
Congregation of St. Joseph and for the People of God was an extension of her
great love for her family. She loved being with them. Together they shared
great joys and deep sorrows. The day before she died, Florence had her suitcases
packed to attend a family reunion. That evening she was taken to the
hospital. When offered consolation for her disappointment she replied:
ÒWhatever God wants, IÕm all right with itÓ.
Florence, our best tribute to you is to
imitate your great service and generosity May you experience a family
reunion far beyond what you imagined – with your dear parents, Joseph and
Mary, your brothers Joseph, Henry, Isadore, and
Father Louis. May you be welcomed by your dear friend, Sister Margaret Rosarii and all the Sisters of Saint Joseph who have gone
before you!
S. Clare Michael
(Frances M. Keating), age 88, a beloved Sister of St. Joseph for 69 years died
at St. Joseph Villa on June 22, 2007.
Her funeral mass was celebrated there on June 25, 2007.
The daughter of
Michael and Mary Keating, S. Clare Michael was born in Philadelphia and grew up
as the only girl in a family that included her four brothers. Her connections with the Sisters of St.
Joseph began at Ascension parish where she attended grade school and the
association continued at West Catholic High School. She entered the Congregation on
January 6, 1938 and went on to spend her entire life as a Sister of St. Joseph
in the city where she was born and raised.
In the 62 years of
her apostolic work, S. Clare Michael was teacher, principal, supervisor, author
of several text books, Education Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
as well as for Chestnut Hill College, director of reading programs and learning
center coordinator. She is remembered by many sisters for her extremely helpful
classes in teaching methods. She
also had the experience of being a storyteller on the radio and enjoyed telling
her own story of this unexpected opportunity. In addition to all of her academic
leadership and endeavors she served the Congregation as a member of the General
Council from 1974-1979.
Immediately
preceding her move to St, Joseph Villa in 2001, S. Clare had completed 20 years
of ministry at St. ColumbaÕs (now St. Martin de Porres)
in Philadelphia. First as Learning
Center Coordinator and later as tutor and coordinator of the after school and
lunch programs, S. Clare Michael touched the lives of hundreds and hundreds of
children and their family members in her time of ministry there.
At her funeral
Mass, S. Nancy Fitzgerald who went to St. Martin de Porres
in 1993 and who continues as principal there today, reflected on S. Clare
MichaelÕs impact. Some highlights
of what she shared describe the unique Good News that S. Clare Michael
embodied: ÒRegardless of what she
was about, Clare always had a quick smile and a positive word to any and
all. As her service at St. Martin
de Porres grew to embrace the lives of many
academically and economically challenged students and their families, she grew
to be their friend, confidant, and champion. Those of us who lived or worked with
Clare were especially struck with her keen mind which caused her to continue to
read, learn, question and enlighten—and indeed to challenge us to be
broader thinkers and more perceptive educators. Sr. ClareÕs wit, humor, and endless
facility in accentuating the positive refreshed the minds and spirits of us
all.Ó
The Sisters of St.
Joseph give thanks for the beauty and energy of the life of S. Clare Michael
Keating –a great lady of her time and ahead of her time. We rejoice that she now intercedes for
us for all time!
Sister Frances Celine (Mary Theresa Bennett)
90, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 69
years, died on June 24, 2007 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of
Christian Burial was celebrated there on June 28, 2007.
Born in Hanover, PA, Mary was the first daughter
born to John and Adelaide Bennett, after the arrival of four sons. This status
as the first daughter convinced Mary that she was the definite ÒpetÓ of the
family until she and her brothers welcomed ten more siblings into the
family! Because of the give and take required in such a large family,
Mary and her beloved sister, Ruth, who became Sister Adelaide, SSJ, were
well-prepared for community life! The Sisters of Saint Joseph are
grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett for the gift of their two daughters to the
Congregation.
S. Frances received a Bachelors Degree in
Elementary Education from Villanova University. She spent 60 years in active
ministry in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Baltimore, and the Dioceses of
Allentown and Harrisburg. As a teacher, tutor and pre-school classroom aide, S.
Frances met the needs of elementary and pre-school children with enthusiasm and
grace. She loved children and they knew it. At the Villa, visiting children
gravitated toward Frances for she would give them her wholehearted attention.
Those who know the Bennett family realize
how important card playing was in their lives and God help you if you cheated!
Each night, after banking the fire and doing the dishes, the family would
gather to play cards. Frances took this love of cards and all games to each of
her missions. At the Villa, S. Frances and S. Adelaide played pinochle nearly
every night to keep them sharp and a step ahead of the rest of the family, who
would always be ready for a game or two when they visited.
It
was in their family that the Bennett children first learned the importance of
relationships. Within the community, Frances deepened her understanding of what
living in relationship with God and others meant. Throughout her life, S.
Frances, possessing a gentle disposition and an engaging sense of humor, was
easy to love She helped create fun and got along well with people. In her new
life, we trust that Sister Frances Celine is now reaping the rewards for a life
well lived!
Sister Mary Ellen Gavitt 
Sister Mary Ellen, formerly Mary Helen Gavitt, died at St. Joseph Villa on July 1, 2007.
Sister is mourned by her devoted family, former students and parishioners, by
friends, and by the Sisters of St. Joseph with whom she lived and worked for
almost sixty-two years.
Mary Ellen was born to Ignatius and Mary
Prophet Gavitt in Bayonne, New Jersey. Her parents,
brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews were always an important presence
in Mary EllenÕs life. Family memories reveal the mutual love and devotion
that characterized their relationships.
After graduation from high school, Mary
Ellen worked in New York City until she followed GodÕs call to enter religious
life in 1945. She received her degree in Elementary Education from Chestnut
Hill College and spent most of her life in the ministry of education. As
a dedicated teacher she touched the lives of many children and their parents in
the dioceses of Newark, Paterson, Philadelphia, and Trenton. She devoted her
summers to teaching remedial reading to children and classroom methods to
novices.
Sister never forgot her Jersey roots. Once
she returned there in 1967, she never left. She made her way from north to
south, from the mountains to the shore. When the time came for Mary Ellen
to leave the classroom she offered her talents first as a school librarian and
then as an office volunteer.
Mary Ellen had a great sense of humor
accompanied by a twinkling Scottish smile. Hers was a quiet manner and a gentle
spirit which made her a good companion and a faithful friend to many.
Family, friends, students, parishioners, and sisters in community found in her
a steady, supportive, and encouraging presence.
Mary Ellen seldom spoke of her spiritual
life but many saw the fruit of her prayer in the way that she lived. Her daily
guides were the Scriptures and the Constitutions of the Sisters of St.
Joseph. She had a lifelong love of the Eucharist and that spiritual
nourishment kept her heart burning with a desire to love Jesus and to spread
that love to all the people she encountered.
Well
done, good and faithful servant. May you be welcomed by your parents,
your brothers Harold and George, Sister Rose Therese and all your friends who
have gone before you in faith!
Sister Catherine Imelda Gerle 
S. Catherine Imelda
(Julia Gerle), age 89, a beloved Sister of St. Joseph
for 72 years died at Chestnut Hill Hospital on July 17, 2007. Her funeral mass was celebrated at St.
Joseph Villa on July 23, 2007.
S. Catherine, a
native of Philadelphia, was one of five children. Her parents, Frederick and Margaret
(Murphy), settled in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Philadelphia and it is there
that Catherine attended elementary school and was introduced to the Sisters of St.
Joseph. She entered the Congregation on September 11, 1935 just a week after
her 18th birthday.
While her entire
life in ministry as a Sister of St. Joseph was given to elementary education,
S. Catherine had a rich variety of assignments. Her experience covered all the
grades except first grade and she served in 13 different parish schools.
Throughout the years, S. Catherine lived in every section of the city of
Philadelphia. She also served in
several Philadelphia suburbs as well as in Washington, DC, Newark, NJ and
Minersville, PA. Her last teaching
assignment was at Stella Maris, Philadelphia and it was during her time there
that she moved from fulltime classroom teacher to tutoring children in computer
skills.
On becoming a
resident at St. Joseph Villa in 1995, S. Catherine offered her service in the
Activities Department and was noted for her creative, artistic talents,
particularly in designing and making angels. Throughout her years at the Villa,
Catherine enjoyed her peaceful life there and continued to be grateful for her
two brothers and two sisters and their goodness to her.
S. Catherine leaves
a legacy of fidelity, creativity, and great joy. Those sisters who lived with
her and those who were her friends valued her unassuming nature, her great wit,
her artistic gifts; her quiet, gentle ways made a difference in the lives of
many, including family members, students, and sisters.
As we celebrate her
risen life in Jesus, the Sisters of St. Joseph rejoice in the gift of S.
Catherine Imelda GerleÕs long life among us. We pray
to heed her advice to Òenjoy what God has given us in this beautiful world!Ó
Sister Maria Josita Perret 
S. Maria Josita, formerly Philomene Marie
Louise Perret died at St. Joseph Villa on the Feast
of the Transfiguration on August 6, 2007.
Sister. was born in Philadelphia to Joseph and Mary Martin Perret. She had three brothers, Francis, Gene and Joseph,
whom she loved, admired, and remained close to all her life.
SisterÕs faith was
a seed planted early on in her childhood in the midst of her family and
developed through her years at St. Edmond School, Hallahan
High School, and St. MonicaÕs Commercial School. After graduation, Sister
worked for years at Girard Trust Bank. In 1952, at the age of 31, she entered
the Sisters of St. Joseph and was a faithful member for almost 55 years.
Sister. earned a
degree in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College and spent all her
years of active ministry teaching elementary school children. She touched the
lives of students and their families in the dioceses of Allentown, Baltimore,
Newark, Philadelphia, and Trenton.
Because of illness,
S. Maria Josita lived as many years at St. Joseph
Villa as she had lived in active ministry. She bore her infirmities with love
and generosity and was loved by the aides and nurses who tended to her care.
Sister had a sensitive and grateful heart which recognized grace in the
ordinary events of life. She once said: ÒWhen you are sick, a kind word is like
a diamond and this place around me glistens from the sparkle of all the
diamondsÓ. In gratitude for successful heart surgery she remarked: ÒIf I felt
that I was worthy of a miracle, I would say that this was one. I felt like a
new person overnight. I am in awe of what the doctors have done. God has
certainly blessed me.Ó
S. Maria Josita claimed St. Joseph, Padre Pio,
and S. Joseph Dolores as special companions on her spiritual journey. Hers was
a life of fidelity and appreciation which made her a treasured companion to those
whose lives have been touched by hers. May we who mourn her passing open our
minds and hearts to GodÕs transforming ways so that we also may be faithful
people, full of hope and gratitude.
Sister Thomas Therese Catterall 
S. Thomas Therese (Mary
Margaret) Catterall, age 86, a beloved sister of St.
Joseph for 69 years died at St. Joseph Villa on August 16 , 2007. Her funeral mass was celebrated there on
August 20, 2007.
The daughter of
William and Mary Catterall, S. Thomas Therese was
born in Harrison, NJ and after graduating from Our Lady Queen of Peace High
School she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1938. From her first mission in leaving the
novitiate until the time of her Golden Jubilee, S. Thomas Therese spent 46
years involved in elementary education.
ÒI was in congregational and educational leadership for 23 of those
years and I found my varied assignments involving different archdioceses and
dioceses to be exciting, challenging and fulfilling,Ó she noted in her living
history recorded in 2003. In
addition, within that same time, S. Thomas Therese, with others, opened three
new missions: St. Jerome,
Philadelphia in 1956, Our Lady of the Valley, Wayne, NJ in 1962 and St. Margaret, Little Ferry, NJ in
1970.
In 1988 S. Thomas
Therese began her second apostolate at St. John the Baptist Parish, Hillsdale,
NJ as pastoral associate for the sick and homebound. In speaking of this ministry she
reflected, ÒThis was the epitome of all my years of experiencesÉbringing the
Eucharist daily to those in need. I was deeply touched by their great gift of
faith and resignation to GodÕs will. I am very grateful for all I learned from
them. It was a very beautiful and
rewarding apostolate.Ó
When S. Thomas
Therese came to the Villa as a resident in 2000 she continued her pastoral care
and presence to others. She reached
out to other residents to encourage them to let go of worries and fears and to
rely on the grace of God ever present and at work in them. She strove wholeheartedly for that faith
herself especially as she experienced increased physical diminishment.
The Sisters of St.
Joseph rejoice in the risen life of S. Thomas Therese Catterall
and give thanks for her life lived among us as one who loved St. Joseph and loved
being a Sister of St. Joseph. As
such, she impacted many—for the life of our congregation and the life of
our world!
Sister Francis Adelaide McDonnell 
S. Francis
Adelaide, formerly Eleanor Joan McDonnell died at St. Joseph Villa on August
23, 2007. She is mourned by family
members to the third generation and by the Sisters of St. Joseph with whom she
lived and worked for over 70 years.
Sister was youngest
of five children born in Lowell, Massachusetts to Terence and Ellen (McElroy)
McDonnell. Her father died while S. Francis was still a small child and her
mother brought the family to Philadelphia when she was eight years old. After
attending St. MatthewÕs Parish School and West Catholic Girls High School, S.
Francis answered GodÕs call and joined the Sisters of St. Joseph. Her sister
Rita, S. Maria Beata, had entered the congregation
just eight months earlier. The two
sisters who were formed in faith by their motherÕs care and devotion, and
shared their novitiate experience, would eventually reside together in their
later years at St. Joseph Villa. S. FrancisÕ devotion to her sister was
legendary. When Maria Beata became ill, Francis cared
for her with tenderness and great fidelity.
S. Francis earned
her Degree in Education from Villanova University and taught elementary school
children for 28 years. During those years she served GodÕs people in the
dioceses of Camden, Harrisburg, Newark, and Philadelphia. When the congregation
had a need for nurses, Francis earned a degree as an LPN and was among the
distinguished staff of nurses who opened St. Joseph Villa in 1968. For many
years she served those who were elderly or infirmed with attention, care, and
devotion.
When S. Francis
retired from nursing, she continued her dedicated service to others as a
seamstress, stitching and patching all kinds of garments and returning them
quickly to Villa residents. She made room deliveries on her famous motorized
wheel chair.
During her many
years as a vowed religious, S. Francis grew in her relationship with God. She found strength and spiritual
nourishment in the Eucharist. She faithfully led others in Morning Prayer and
with her sisters prayed for the needs of all GodÕs people throughout the world.
In prayer as in the rest of her life, she was attentive to the needs of others.
S. Francis was a
person faithful to her promises. She was a devoted member of her family, a
dedicated teacher, an attentive nurse, and a thoughtful friend. After a life of
prayer and service, may she find rest and joy in the arms of our faithful and
loving God.
S. Agnes Helene
(Kathleen M. Bailey) 95, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,
Chestnut Hill, for 77 years, died on September 3, 2007 at St. Joseph Villa,
Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated there on September 6, 2007.
A native of
Bayonne, New Jersey, Kathleen was one of four children of Ellen and Michael
Bailey. It was at St. Mary School in Bayonne that she met the Sisters of Saint
Joseph. Before the Bayonne Bridge was completed, Kathleen traded the Kill Van
Kull for the banks of Wissahickon Creek and began her
life as an SSJ in September 1930.
Young children were
dear to her heart and S. Agnes spent most of her active ministry years as an
elementary school educator. For nearly 60 years, this Villanova University
graduate met the needs of students in elementary schools as a teacher and then
tutor in the Archdioceses of Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC and in
the dioceses of Allentown, Harrisburg and Wilmington. After she retired from
teaching, Agnes was excited to learn to use the computer so that she could
input parish records. Before moving to St. Joseph Villa in 2006, she helped
with various tasks around the convent.
On her life
journey, S. Agnes saw many, many changes in our world, our Church and in the
Congregation. She admitted that she found some of the changes very hard but
they did not paralyze her. The week
before she died, she looked up from the America
magazine that she was reading and said to a visitorÓ I learned what you have to
have----perseverance.Ó At her funeral liturgy, S. Pat Kelly offered ÒGiven that
she was ninety-five years young, seventy-seven years in religious life, and
almost sixty years an educator, IÕd judge her perspective on perseverance to be
most credible.Ó
More than 70 years
ago, Father William Lawler, SisterÕs pastor at St. MaryÕs Bayonne, wrote to
Reverend Mother Mary James Rogers: ÒI think that you will find Miss Kathleen
Bailey a very pious and tractable person indeed. I feel that she will prove a
valuable addition to your Community. I hope that she will be happy with you and
you with her.Ó With great
gratitude, the Congregation can say that those hopes were realized beyond
measure. Thank you, S. Agnes for the gift of your life!
Sister Charles Bernard Corbett 
S. Charles Bernard
(Elaine Corbett), 86, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut
Hill, for 64 years, died on September 6, 2007 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown,
PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on September 10, 2007.
Born in
Philadelphia, Elaine was one of eight children welcomed into the family of
Charles and Henrietta Corbett. After attending elementary and secondary
parochial schools in Philadelphia, Elaine entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph
in 1943 and soon became S. Charles Bernard, a strong family name.
A fine student, S.
Charles received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chestnut Hill College and held
two Masters Degrees, one from Western Reserve University and another from
Villanova University. Her studies prepared her well for the varied ministries
that she held in the Archdioceses of Baltimore and Philadelphia and in the
dioceses of Charlotte and Harrisburg.
While teaching at
Cathedral Elementary School in Philadelphia, S. Charles welcomed many students
who had recently arrived from Puerto Rico. She desired to meet their needs and
her call to learn and teach Spanish began. For the next thirty-five years, S.
Charles taught Spanish and held several positions in high school
administration. In later years, her well-developed secretarial and
organizational skills came in handy in school offices as well as at the
Motherhouse. In 2002, Sister became a resident of St. Joseph Villa where she
continued to be helpful in whatever way she could.
Sister cherished
wonderful family memories and enjoyed special relationships with all of her
siblings. One of her greatest joys was that her younger sister, Mary, joined
her as a Sister of Saint Joseph! The next generation of Corbetts
was blessed with new life and S. Charles was devoted to her nieces and nephews
and delighted in their many accomplishments.
S. Charles
BernardÕs life was characterized by a strong and faithful commitment to God, to
the Congregation and to ministry. Those who mourn her passing can say with
confidence- Blessed are you! Holy are you! Certainly, yours is the kingdom of
God! Gracias, Hermana Carlos!
S. Alice Bernadette
(Catherine) Lowry, age 81, died at St. Joseph Villa on September 11, 2007. Her funeral mass was celebrated there on
September 14, 2007.
Born in
Philadelphia to Joseph and Mary Lowry, Catherine had four older brothers and
one younger. She attended
Visitation Grade School and shared vivid memories of the Sisters she
encountered there who first attracted her to the Sisters of St. Joseph. After attending Little Flower High
School, S. Alice worked briefly for Bell Telephone and a pharmaceutical company
before entering the Congregation in 1944.
S. Alice ministered
as an elementary school teacher for a full 50 years then continued to tutor
students. She spent most of her
teaching career in the primary grades and was especially happy for the
opportunity that this gave her to prepare children for First Penance and First
Holy Communion.
In a living history
interview recorded after she had moved to the Villa in 2003, S. Alice in
commenting on her various missions said she had no favorites—she liked
them all! She enjoyed her
relationship with co-workers, especially the faculty of St. HelenaÕs,
Philadelphia, where she spent the last 21 years of her active ministry. Her optimism, sense of humor, and
kindness were appreciated by many and she was also known to enjoy all kinds of
sports.
S. Anne Myers, in
reflecting on S. AliceÕs life at her funeral mass observed, ÒFrom the very
beginning of her religious life, S. AliceÕs disposition of mind and heart were
a perfect fit with the Sisters of St. Joseph. She was blessed with a spirit of
simplicity and was a kind, loving, joyful, and unassuming person.Ó
During her four
years spent at the Villa, S. Alice continued to be a positive presence,
accepting her illness graciously without complaint. In her final days she expressed a desire
for simple comfort care. ÒAll I
want is peace,Ó she said.
The Sisters of St.
Joseph rejoice in the living, dying, and rising of S. Alice Bernadette
Lowry—what joy is hers in the gift of eternal peace in the presence of
God and all her loved ones who have gone before her!
Sister Baptista McShane 
S. Baptista, formerly known as Catherine McShane
died on September 29, 2007 at St. Joseph Villa. She is mourned by her sister,
Josephine, and nieces and nephews to the third generation, as well as by the
Sisters of St. Joseph with whom she lived and worked for over sixty-six years.
S. Baptista was unique in many ways. She and her twin sister,
Josephine were born in Glasgow, Scotland. They were the eleventh and twelfth
child of John and Margaret (McCann) McShane. They were five years old when they
left Scotland, crossed the Atlantic, and arrived at the port in Philadelphia.
The family settled in St. LeoÕs Parish and Catherine attended St. LeoÕs
Elementary and Business School. Ten days after graduation her father died and
she realized that she would be needed to help financially for awhile.
At age twenty-two
Catherine followed the example of her older sister Agnes, S. Andrew Joseph, and
entered the Sisters of St. Joseph. She earned her Bachelor Degree in Education
from Villanova University. She spent fifty years of her life in the ministry of
education in the dioceses of Arlington, Camden, and Philadelphia. She worked as
teacher and principal. In the course of that time she spent eleven years at the
Catholic Home and she said ÒthatÕs where I learned to be kind, compassionate,
and understandingÓ. Here she was a teacher and house-mother at the same time.
Baptista spent nine years as a receptionist and four
years as a convent helper. She lived on a mission until she was eighty-seven
years old. At that time her health was deteriorating and that need brought her
to St. Joseph Villa after sixty-three years of ministry.
In her final hours
a priest visited Baptista and asked her if she would
like to receive Holy Communion. While he went down to the chapel to get the
host, Josephine came in to visit her sister. He returned with one host and was
seeing double. Without hesitation he broke the host in two and gave each of
them half. Josephine and Catherine who began life together in the womb and
shared everything in life, shared this last communion as Catherine rested into
the arms of her loving God.
Baptista, you lived your life in joy and gratitude.
May you be welcomed now into the heavenly feast of joy and thanksgiving!
Sister Mary Scanlon
(formerly Sister James Anthony), 86, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph, Chestnut Hill for 67 years, died on November 8, 2007 at St. Joseph
Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on
November 13, 2007.
As a child, Mary
and her four siblings attended three Catholic elementary schools in
Philadelphia, all staffed by SSJÕs. Mary went on to West Catholic High School
where again she encountered the sisters that she would join in the fall of
1940. After she entered the Congregation, she received her BachelorÕs Degree
from Chestnut Hill and a Masters Degree from Fordham University.
A true
Philadelphian, S. Mary spent her entire active ministry years in that
Archdiocese. Her first move outside the city limits was not until she was
almost ready to celebrate her golden jubilee! What a full and rich ministry life
she had! Mary served as teacher,
principal, curriculum consultant, Coordinator of Ministry for Elementary
Schools and parish minister before becoming a resident at St. Joseph Villa in
2001.
Although she
invested herself wholeheartedly in each of her ministries, MaryÕs true love was
Norwood Fontbonne Academy. Like a proud parent, she
watched the school evolve from Norwood Academy to NFA. In return, the academy family loved her
and Sister James Anthony Hall stands as a tribute to her dedication. For thirty-three years, she gave
of herself in so many ways to the faculty and staff but especially to the young
men and women she met there. After
she left, she often would drive through the grounds just to see how things were
progressing. At one point, while being transported by ambulance from the
hospital to the Villa, she asked the ambulance driver to drive through the
grounds so she could see the progress of the new construction!
Mary was capable,
competent, and professional, but what made her special was her manner. She approached students, colleagues and
sisters with a deep respect for their individuality. Mary looked at life and at
every person she met through the eyes of love. She had a way of making those
who experienced her feel loved, valued and valuable. The Scanlon family, her
childhood friends, her religious family, all those she met in ministry, and
especially her God were the beneficiaries of her faithfulness. In a reflection
offered by her friends, Sisters Cyrilla, Cathy and Roseann, they shared that Mary had taught them well the
meaning of the words ÒTo love another person is to see the face of God.Ó Thank
you, Mary for your genuine, active, inclusive love!
Sister John of the Cross Kirby 
ÒI will bless you,
O God, as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.Ó These words of Psalm 63 were loved and
lived by S. John of the Cross who died at St. Joseph Villa on November 8, 2007.
Sister was a beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph for eighty-two years
and is mourned by her sisters.
S. John of the Cross, formerly Margaret Kirby, was born in Washington DC to Alex and Bertha (Schaefer) Kirby.