Sr. Mary McCrorken, SC
(formerly Sr. Mary Leo, SC)

WAKE
Convent of Mary the Queen
Monday, June 14, 2010
2 – 8pm
6:30pm, Prayer Service

MASS
Convent of Mary the Queen
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
9:30am

BURIAL
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY

~ ~ ~

Sister entered the Sisters of Charity of New York on February 2, 1942.
She earned a BA in English & a MSW in Social Work.

MINISTRIES

Bronx

• Visitation, 1945-46
• Our Lady of Angels, 1946-48
• St. Barnabas, 1948-57

Manhattan

• St. Agnes, 1943-44
• New York Foundling Hospital, 1968-71
• Institute of Applied Human Dynamics, 1988-89
• St. Malachy, 1989-97

Queens

• St. Gabriel, 1944-45

Brooklyn

• St. Joseph Children Services, 1971-86

North of New York City

• Yonkers:  St. Denis 1957-60
• Stony Point:  Immaculate Conception, 1960-62
• Saugerties:  St. Mary of the Snow, 1962-1968

The first 25 years of Sister’s community life were dedicated to elementary education. After teaching at seven parish schools, Sister served as principal for six years at St. Mary of the Snow School in Ulster County, NY.

During that time, the winds of the Spirit were sweeping the Church and Sr. Mary readily embraced the hope and promise of the Second Vatican Council with its emphasis on the God-given dignity of all people.

In 1968, Sister was appointed a Regional Coordinator for the Congregation. After three years in this office, Sister felt called to use her gifts in another way. She earned a Master’s degree and NY State certification in Social Work and spent the next 15 years touching the lives of innumerable children, families and colleagues as a case worker in foster care and a social worker at St. Joseph Family and Child Services in Brooklyn and at the Institute of Applied Human Dynamics.

After she “retired,” Sister ministered for eight years at the Encore Senior Center in St. Malachy’s Parish, Manhattan.

Sr. Mary is remembered as authentic, fun-loving, non-complaining, faithful to family and work relationships, hopeful and optimistic. She encouraged the dreams and ideas of others, as well as disagree firmly but kindly. A lifelong friend spoke of her “innate responsiveness” to people in any need.  Sensitive, humane, attuned to people, she was focused on making things better for others – for students and parents, for troubled children, for co-workers, for the Sisters – wherever the Spirit led her during her long life of ministry as a Sister of Charity.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton spoke of her early companions as “truly good Sisters.” As Mary’s life of service, prayer and relationship on earth comes to a close, we rejoice that we have been richly blessed to know this truly good Sister. Mary, may the God you served so lovingly give us a share of your joyful, hopeful, and enthusiastic spirit!

Sign Sr. Mary’s guest book through July 13, 2010

WAKE
Mount Saint Vincent Convent (Assembly Room)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
2 – 8pm
6:30 pm, Prayer Service

MASS
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception (MSV)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
10am

BURIAL
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY

~ ~ ~

Sister entered the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1960.

She earned BA & MA degrees in French and a MA in Math.

MINISTRIES

Bronx

• St. Barnabas HS, 1993-99
• College of Mount Saint Vincent, 2003-2010

Manhattan

• Epiphany, 1963-4
• St. Joseph Academy, 1991-92

Westchester

• Dobbs Ferry:  Our Lady of Victory Academy, 1969-76
• New Rochelle:  Iona Prep, 1992-93; St. Gabriel HS, 1976-83
• Rye:  Academy of Resurrection, 1983-91
• White Plains:  Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel, 1999-2003
• Yonkers:  Elizabeth Seton Academy, 1964-69

Sr. Eleanor M. Gunn, SC

The communities in which Sr. Eleanor lived knew her to be fun-loving and cheerful, even when troubled by chronic pain. Dancing was her favorite way to celebrate, both with her many beloved nephews, nieces, and cousins and with her Sisters in community. Sister treasured the bonds of family and friendship. Her Scottish and Irish roots were a source of pride.

Sister’s friends have many a story of her gentleness, courage, thoughtfulness and empathy for others. Poor health slowed her a bit but never stopped her from achieving what she wanted to do.

We rejoice with Sr. Eleanor as she hears those loving words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Be at peace, dear Eleanor.

MASS
Convent of Mary the Queen
Thursday, April 8, 2010
9:30am

BURIAL
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY

~ ~ ~

Ministries, educator / librarian
Bronx

• St. Anthony, 1956-58
• St. Barnabas HS, 1983-2000 & 2001-06

Manhattan

• St. Agnes, 1958-60
• Our Lady of Good Counsel, 1960-62

Westchester

• Rye:  Academy of Resurrection, 1962-67
• New Rochelle:  St. Gabriel HS, 1967-71 & 1973-78

Outside of New York State

• York, PA:  York Catholic HS, 1971-73

Sr. Eleanor O’Doherty, SC

Eleanor attended Ascension School, Cathedral HS and Hunter College before entering the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1952 – one of many vocations from Ascension and Cathedral.

Sister earned degrees in history from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and Fordham University and NYS certification in social science. First assigned to teach elementary grades for six years, Sr. Eleanor then taught high school for 16 years – history in Westchester and English in Pennsylvania. A faculty colleague at St. Gabriel’s described her as the consummate high school history teacher, who even was known to check the footnotes of her students’ research papers for accuracy!

In 1978, Sr. Eleanor interned in Washington, DC at NETWORK, a Catholic organization that lobbies for legislation that addresses the needs of poor persons and the root causes of poverty. The experience prepared her well to serve through 1983 as the Social Concerns Director for her own Congregation on her return to New York. With her keen grasp of current events and her gift for research and writing, she helped us “to examine the signs of the times and to interpret them in the light of the Gospel” (Constitution of the Sisters of Charity, 5.2).

Never one to mince words, Sr. Eleanor once wrote an open letter to a noted columnist who had criticized other Catholics, especially sisters, for demanding peace and an end to nuclear arms. She ended her letter with the challenge to “stop mourning for the [Baltimore] catechism and start living it,” and with a prayer “for all searching Catholics, that we may use our light, not to burn each other, but to show others the path to the Father.” Her words ring as powerfully today as when she wrote them in 1982.

When Sr. Eleanor finished her term as Social Concerns Director, her scholarly bent and love of research encouraged her to pursue a degree in Library Science. As librarian at St. Barnabas HS, Bronx until she retired in 2006, Sister guided her students in thoroughness and accuracy. She showed them concern and love, but always with a professionalism that was admired by other faculty members.

Sr. Eleanor enjoyed her siblings Pat and Joe and their growing families. She was an accomplished seamstress and knitter, an avid reader who was known to stay up all night to finish a book, an engaging conversationalist and an intrepid traveler. Her good friend Sr. Teresa Dermody remembers her as a wonderful traveling companion, adventurous and curious about everything she saw. 

In her later years, poor health slowed her down and necessitated her move to the Convent of Mary the Queen. On Good Friday, Sr. Eleanor returned to her God with her hands full of good works, after a lifetime of teaching and learning how to “act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8)

May Christ’s peace enfold you, Eleanor!

MASS
Convent of Mary the Queen
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
9:30 am

BURIAL
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, New York

~~~

Ministries
Sister Geraldine’s ministry experience spanned all levels of education. She taught elementary grades at Immaculate Conception in Manhattan (1948-1953) and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarsdale (1953-60), before moving to St. Barnabas High School, Bronx (1960-61), as religion and social studies teacher. Most of us know her from her long years at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, first as an instructor in elementary education (1961-72) and then as librarian (1972-97). From 1961 to her retirement in 1998, Sister served generations of students with her helpful, knowledgeable and professional manner.

Sister Geraldine F. Little, SC in 1993

Sister Geraldine enthusiastically embraced the Second Vatican Council, especially its renewal of the Church’s liturgy. She taught novices and postulants to understand and appreciate the Eucharistic liturgy as the source and summit of the Church’s life; in the Congregation, she ardently promoted the “full, conscious and active participation” that the Council sought. Sister Geraldine (Gerry) had an innate sense of the deep spiritual meaning of liturgical prayer and worship and its profound connection with life. As a natural outcome of her prayer, she often wrote letters in support of social justice issues.

Upon retiring, she lived at Mount Saint Vincent Convent and then moved to the Convent of Mary the Queen. She was a gracious presence to Sisters and staff.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us that we can look forward to “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where millions of angels have gathered for the festival with the whole Church.” (Heb. 12:22) In the spirit of the Easter mystery, we celebrate our Sister Geraldine’s entrance at last into that eternal city and that joyful celebration.

WAKE
Convent of Mary the Queen
Thursday, March 25, 2010
2 – 8pm
6:30pm, Prayer Service

MASS
Convent of Mary the Queen
Friday, March 26, 2010
9:30am

BURIAL
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, New York

~~~

Entered the Daughters of Mary, Health of the Sick on October 7, 1939.

Entered the Sisters of Charity of New York, September 8, 1976.

Ministries
As a Daughter of Mary, Health of the Sick, Sr. Dorothy worked with the Catholic Medical Mission Board in New York City, at Vista Maria Motherhouse, Cragsmoor, NY. She was also the first Regional Director of Religious Education in Ulster County, and opened the regional office there. 

As a Sister of Charity, Sister served as religious education coordinator at St. Denis Parish in Yonkers (1976-81) and at Our Lady of Angels in the Bronx (1981-86). She was the Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph in Millbrook, NY (1988-90) and assistant DRE at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scarsdale (1991-92).

Sister Dorothy O’Brien, SC in Oct. 1989.

Sister Dorothy O’Brien was born on July 21, 1919, in the Bronx, to Michael and Loretto Duffy O’Brien. She graduated from St. Brendan School, St. Brendan Academy High School and the College of Mount Saint Vincent before entering the Daughters of Mary, Health of the Sick, in Cragsmoor, NY. Dorothy earned a master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University, and spent much of her life teaching others to know and love God as she did.

Dorothy was part of her community’s decision to close their motherhouse and disband. It was a choice which must have caused her, as one of the early members of the group, much pain. In 1976, Dorothy transferred to the Sisters of Charity of New York, the community of her Aunt Kittie (Sr. Miriam Ursula Farnan) who had died in 1957 after 57 years of service.

Colleagues described Sr. Dorothy as a well-loved, responsible, diligent, dedicated woman of prayer. A faithful friend, she kept contact with her companions in her former community. She stayed close to her sister even when illness brought her into a nursing home and kept in touch with her brother, a Jesuit missionary in the Philippines.

Sister felt that her call to the Sisters of Charity was a distinct vocation. She especially valued the call to serve the poor, and she integrated her love for the poor into her everyday life. She reached out beyond her regular ministry to prepare young people in treatment at Daytop to receive the sacraments. Her love of Scripture was evident even in the last days of her long illness.

A priest who knew Dorothy well remarked that she never said “no,” but always said “yes.” Now this dedicated Sister of Charity and Daughter of Mary has spoken her final “yes” to the God who called her so many years ago. It is fitting that Dorothy entered religious life on October 7, a feast of Mary, and that she died close to the feast of the Annunciation.

MASS
Convent of Mary the Queen
Friday, March 5, 2010
9:30am

BURIAL
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, New York

~~~

Entered the Sisters of Charity of
New York, September 8, 1949

Sister Patricia Humphrey, SC in Dec. 2009.

Sister Patricia’s entire active ministry was in the field of elementary education. From 1952 to 1970, she taught at St. Raymond’s in the Bronx, and at Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Good Counsel, and Holy Name, in Manhattan. When she moved to St. John the Evangelist School, White Plains, to teach fifth grade in 1970, she probably did not realize that she would serve there for 24 years. Even after she retired in 1994, she continued to volunteer at the school and in the parish. Many parishioners visited her after she moved to the Convent of Mary the Queen.

An elementary school teacher par excellence, she believed that education encompassed the whole child, including the home environment. Creative and energetic, she gave herself fully to the schools and parishes where she served, and was much loved by her students. She embodied Mother Seton’s belief that tenderness is “the language children best understand.”

After illness brought her to Mary the Queen, she came to enjoy life there and participated in bingo, walkathons and many other events. It was a special consolation to have her longtime friend Sister Marie Daly close by.

With grateful appreciation for her life of service as a Sister of Charity, we commend Sister Patricia to the God of all Charity. Jesus, the teacher who welcomed all children, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, patron of Catholic education, now surely greet her with open arms.

The prophet Daniel tells us:  “Those who teach others shall shine like stars for all eternity.” 

Patricia, may you know the joyful fulfillment of that promise.

WAKE
Convent of Mary the Queen
Sunday, January 31, 2010
2 – 8pm
6:30pm, Prayer Service

MASS Convent of Mary the Queen
Monday, February 1, 2010
9:30am

BURIAL
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, New York

~~~

Entered the Sisters of Charity of New York, November 21, 1923.

Sister Mary Perpetua (Marguerite Collins) was born on November 28, 1905, one of the six children of Laurence and Catherine Martin Collins. Born in Whitestone, New York, the young Marguerite attended St. Luke’s Elementary School and St. Agnes Academy in College Point.

While, in her own words, she never “held a paying job,” each year when her father went hunting, it was Marguerite, not her brothers, who took over the running of her father’s construction business. As a teenager, on a visit to her confessor who was ill in Holy Family Hospital, she met and was impressed by the Sisters of Charity. Soon after, she entered the Congregation on November 21, 1923.

Sister Perpetua loved education, where she spent 61 fulfilling years of ministry. She taught at Blessed Sacrament Academy, Manhattan (1926-42), then, gave inspired leadership to faculty, students and parents as Principal in:

• St. Gabriel’s, Riverdale (1942-46 as teacher; 1946-58 as administrator)
• St. Lawrence Academy in Manhattan (1958-60)
• St. Gregory’s in Harrison (1960-64)
• Elizabeth Seton Academy in Yonkers (1964-66)
• The Academy of Mount St. Vincent in Tuxedo (1966-70)

A consummate professional, she kept up with the latest educational trends so that her students would have the best preparation possible. She was known as “a principal’s principal.”

At an age at which many retire, Sister Perpetua began service as librarian at St. Bernard’s in Manhattan (1971-82), where her dear friend, Sister Mary Alphonsus, was Principal.

Sister would go on to serve as coordinator of the motherhouse convent at Mount Saint Vincent (1983–85); she found overseeing the welfare of her fellow Sisters to be the most rewarding ministry of her career.

Truly, Sister Perpetua was a mentor and a wisdom figure for many, within and beyond the Sisters of Charity. With all she met, she shared the blessing of friendship and spread the spirit of kindness. On her 100th birthday, a reporter asked her the secret of her longevity. “Be kind to everyone,” she replied, without hesitation. Even at her advanced age, she remained vitally interested in Congregation events. She was kept well informed by her friend of many years, Sister Mary T. Higgins, whose fidelity sustained Sister Perpetua through many difficulties.

WAKE
Convent of Mary the Queen
Sunday, January 10, 2010
2 – 8pm
Prayer Service 6:30pm

MASS
Convent of Mary the Queen
Monday, January 11, 2010
10am

BURIAL
Calvary Cemetery

~~~

Entered the Sisters of Charity of New York, February 2, 1932.

Professed final vows on August 15, 1937.

Established a scholarship fund at St. Barnabas HS in the Bronx, in memory of her sister Sr. Margaret who taught there for over 22 years.

Received special recognition from her alma mater, Cathedral HS, at its Centennial Anniversary Opening
Mass held September 25, 2005 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. She was cited  “for embodying the true essence of a Cathedralite with strength, wisdom and character.”

Honored by The New York Foundling on March 6, 2007 for her 60 years of service to and her 75th anniversary as a Sister of Charity.

Listen to Sr. Mary de Sales recall an adoption just after
World War II in this April 2009 StoryCorps interview.     

Read the December 22, 2004 NY Times article about Sister.

Sister Mary de Sales Collins, SC

Sister Mary de Sales received a B.A. in History from St. John’s University and an MSW in Child Welfare from Fordham University.

Her first ministry was teaching – at St. Paul’s (1933-43) and at St. John the Baptist (1943-46), both in Brooklyn.

Sister served most of her life as a social worker though, beginning with St. Agatha’s Home in Nanuet. Her next assigned mission was The New York Foundling Hospital, Manhattan where she filled many roles – assistant director in the adoption department, working to match abandoned children with adoptive parents and director of the maternity residence from 1963 to 1995. She helped move babies from an old building to a new one on two occasions as The Foundling changed sites.

In 1972, seeing the need for permanent homes for many young women with children, she started the first mother-child program in New York City which helped with housing education leading to self-support. At an award ceremony, it was stated “that Sister Mary de Sales is an inspiration to us all…a true witness of Christ in her many endeavors for children and their mothers.”

Sister Mary de Sales responded to the calls of frantic unwed mothers, of would-be parents, of adults trying to piece together their past. She was personally involved in what she estimated to be more than 1,500 adoptions or placements in foster homes.