In Memoriam
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2021
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Sr. Ruth McDonnell, FSP
November 2, 1929 - December 20, 2021Sr. Ruth McDonnell died peacefully on December 20, 2021 at St. Cabrini Nursing Home, Dobbs Ferry, NY. Ruth was born in New York City on November 2, 1929 to Katherine and Harry McDonnell. She attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School in the Bronx and an annex to Cathedral High School in Manhattan, graduating in 1947. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree at Hunter College, graduating in 1951. After working for two years on Wall Street, NY, Ruth felt a strong call to religious life and to the teaching profession. She learned about the Franciscan Sisters of Peekskill while on a discernment retreat and entered the novitiate in September of 1953.
Sr. Katherine Marie, as she was first named, was assigned in 1960 to the education ministry on the high school level. Her first assignment was teaching Latin and Spanish at Ladycliff Academy in Mohegan Lake, NY.
During summer vacations, Sister studied at Catholic University in Washington DC, where she earned her Masters Degree in Spanish in 1963. She also earned a certificate in Administration from SUNY, Plattsburgh.
In 1965 Ruth went to St. Joseph’s High School, a large co-educational school in West New York, NJ, where she taught Spanish and became an Assistant Principal. In 1974, Ladycliff Academy in Mohegan Lake became co-educational and was renamed Franciscan High School. Sr. Ruth returned to the school where she taught Spanish.
In 1986 Sr. Ruth became a founding member of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace. She then joined the faculty of Maria Regina High School, a girls’ High School in Hartsdale, NY, where she taught for many years.
In her earlier years, Sr. Ruth also did volunteer work at Birthright, taught ESL classes to adults and Religious Education classes to children.
Her 28 years at Maria Regina High School were wonderful, busy and happy ones, teaching Spanish with dedicated co-workers, serving as Dept. Chairperson of Languages and working with various clubs and societies as well as traveling to Spain with students and adults. She always enjoyed helping students to mature, not only academically, but spiritually and socially.
In June 2014, Sr. Ruth retired from teaching and moved to Marian Woods, a collaborative retirement facility located in Hartsdale, NY. There she served as a Eucharistic Minister and volunteered to tutor others in Spanish. Due to ill health, Sr. Ruth transitioned to St. Cabrini Nursing Home in 2017 where she continued to share her Franciscan spirit with the staff and other residents.
Sr. Ruth died peacefully on December 20, 2021 at St. Cabrini Nursing Home, Dobbs Ferry, NY. She is survived by Laurie Fournier, a first cousin, Laurie’s sons John, Paul, and Mark , and first cousins, Florence Brady, Carol and Peter Ingrassi.
The Wake Service will take place at Marian Woods, Hartsdale, NY on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.). A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at Marian Woods Chapel on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.
Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Yonkers, NY following the Mass of Resurrection. -
Sr. Charlotte Koch, FSP
March 14, 1943 - December 6, 2021Sr. Charlotte Koch died peacefully on December 6, 2021 at Cabrini of Westchester in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Charlotte was born in Hoboken, NJ on March 14, 1943 to Kathryn Ruff and Henry Koch. She had one brother, Robert. As a child, Charlotte attended Charles DeWolf Elementary School in Old Tappan, NJ and graduated from Ladycliff Academy, Highland Falls, NY in June 1960. After graduating from high school, Charlotte entered the Franciscan Sisters Novitiate in Peekskill, NY in September 1960.
After her religious profession, Sr. Charlotte was assigned to the field of Elementary Education and remained in that ministry for more than fifty years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in History at Ladycliff College, Highland Falls, NY and later studied at City College, New York where she achieved a Master’s degree in Social Studies in 1975.
During her early years she taught at St. James School, Totowa, NJ, Holy Family School, Union City, NJ, the Assumption School, Peekskill, NY, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School, NYC and St. Joseph’s School, NYC. In 1973 Sr. Charlotte taught at St. John’s School, Fairview, NJ, then at St. Philip's School, Clifton, NJ where she spent the next twenty-one years. In 2000 Sr. Charlotte taught at Visitation Academy, Paramus, NJ until 2004 when she taught at Hillside Catholic Academy, Hillside, NJ. In 2008 she taught at Holy Trinity School, Hackensack, NJ and finished her teaching career at St. John’s School, Leonia, NJ in 2015.
In 1986, Charlotte became one of 112 founding members of the newly founded Congregation, the Franciscan Sisters of Peace. She retired from active ministry in 2015 and moved to a collaborative retirement facility, Marian Woods, located in Hartsdale, NY and remained in residence there since 2016.
Sr. Charlotte is survived by her brother, Robert Koch, her Aunt Sister Barbara Anne Ruff, FMSC, her niece, Allison Koch Ubriaco and her nephew, David Koch.
The Wake Service will take place at Marian Woods, Hartsdale, NY on Friday, December 10, 2021 (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.). A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at Marian Woods Chapel on Friday, December 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.
Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Yonkers, NY following the Mass of Resurrection.
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2020
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Sr. Maureen Kelly, FSP
August 16, 1935 - July 10, 2020
Sister Maureen Kelly, FSP, formerly known as Sr. John Agnes, was the second child of four born in New York City to John and Agnes Kelly. She was raised north of the George Washington Bridge often referred to as Innwood. There she attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School where she met the Franciscan Sisters. She attended Cathedral High School for girls located on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. After graduating from high school in 1953, Maureen entered the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Peekskill, NY and professed her first vows in 1955.
Sister Maureen pursued higher education at Ladycliff College in Highland Falls, NY graduating with a BA degree in History and English. Later, she studied at Hunter College in Manhattan where she earned an MA in History.
Sr. Maureen was one of 112 founding members of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace established in 1986.
Throughout her years of ministry, she taught in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York on the elementary level as well as
the secondary level.
While ministering at St. Joseph’s High School in West New York, NJ, she served as the chairperson of the History Department. After completing studies at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, where she received an MA in Student Personnel Services and Guidance, she served as Director of Guidance at both St. Joseph’s High School, West New York, NJ and St. Dominic’s Academy, Jersey City, NJ for thirty-six years. During these years she received special recognition as “Counselor of the County” for her dedicated service to students, parents, educators and the community as well as for promoting the highest ideals of the school counseling profession. It was Sr. Maureen’s energy, joy, and generous spirit that were gifts to her students for so many years.
In 2011 she retired from her ministry at St. Dominic’s Academy and served as Eucharistic Minister and Lector at St. Joseph’s Parish, Bogota, NJ. In early 2018, due to declining health, Sr. Maureen moved to Marian Woods in Hartsdale, a collaborative adult care facility for women religious from various communities. Since 2019, she has been a resident of St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY. It was there that she befriended other residents and staff ministering in her own special way to all she encountered.
Sr. Maureen is survived by her brother, John Kelly and her sister Eileen Giordan as well as many nieces and nephews and several grand nieces and nephews.
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Sr. Regina Miriam McWilliams, FSPNovember 14, 1927 - April 1, 2020
Sister Regina Miriam (Catherine McWilliams) died peacefully on April 1, 2020 at St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Catherine was born in New York City on November 14, 1927 to Isabella Ferris and Ralph McWilliams. She had six siblings: Michael, Thomas, Margaret, Colette, Theresa and Ralph. She attended Sacred Heart Grammar School in Manhattan and graduated from Cathedral High School in June 1946. In her first year at Cathedral High School she met the Franciscan Sisters and entered their novitiate in Peekskill, NY in March of 1947.
After her religious profession, Sr. Regina Miriam was assigned to the field of Elementary Education and remained in that ministry for fifty-six years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English at Ladycliff College, Highland Falls, NY and later studied at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ where she achieved a Master’s degree in Education Administration in 1976.
During her early years she taught at St. Mary’s School in West New York, NJ. In 1953 she was assigned as teacher and child care worker at St. Joseph’s Home, Peekskill, NY until 1955 when she went to teach at St. Patrick’s School in Verplanck, NY until 1957. From 1957-1959, she taught at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St. Veronica’s School, both in Manhattan. From 1960-1961, she taught at Assumption in Peekskill, NY
Sr. Regina Miriam rejoined the faculty at St. Mary’s School, West New York, NJ in 1961 and spent five years there. She then taught for two years at St. Joseph’s School, Bogota, NJ. In 1969, she returned to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in NYC until 1972. It was then that she was appointed as Principal of St. Joseph’s School in Bogota, NJ and served in that role for six years.
Illness interrupted her tenure as Principal in 1978 but Sr. Regina Miriam was able to return to that role in 1983 serving for another twenty-one years! During her teaching tenure, Sr. Regina Miriam received permanent licensing in education in both New York and New Jersey. She was also certified as Principal by the State of New Jersey in 1972. In 2003 she received the STARS award as a tribute to her service in the field of education.
In 1986, when the newly founded Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace was established, Sr. Regina Miriam chose to become one of 112 founding members. She served on the Finance Committee of St. Joseph’s Parish, Bogota and the Long-Range Planning Committee of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace.
She retired from active ministry in 2004 and continued to reside in Bogota until 2010 when she moved to a collaborative retirement facility, Marian Woods located in Hartsdale, NY and remained in residence there until 2017. Due to her need for skilled care, Sr. Regina Miriam was moved to St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
All of Sr. Regina Miriam’s siblings have predeceased her. She was proud of the military service of her brothers, Michael and Thomas, who served in the US Army during World War II. Thomas (Tucker) was wounded in combat in Germany on February 23, 1945 and died two days later near Duren, Germany. He was buried in the Henri Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium.Sr. Regina Miriam is survived by her nieces, Rose Ann Buccino and Michele Giuliano, who were very faithful and attentive to visiting her at St. Cabrini Nursing Home. She also had many nieces and nephews along with several cousins. Top of Page
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2019
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Sr. Irene Freely, FSP
April 4, 1941 – May 7, 2019Sr. Irene was 78 years old and was a Franciscan Sister for 60 years. She was born in NYC on April 4, 1941 to Elizabeth Steineger and James Freely. She grew up in the Inwood section of Manhattan and graduated from Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs School where she met the Franciscan Sisters. She attended Cathedral High School, graduating in 1959. Sr. Irene entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters at Peekskill, NY in 1959 and professed her first vows in 1961. She was assigned to teach in grammar schools in New Jersey and Philadelphia. She then ministered in child care at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Home, Bronx, NY for more than 10 years. She received a B.A. degree in Human Services from Dominican College, Blauvelt, NY and later her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University. Sr. Irene transferred to the Franciscan Sisters of Peace when the new congregation was established in 1986. After completing her M.S.W. she joined the staff of a Covenant House Program called “Under 21” and shortly after that the Dominican Sisters Family Health Services in the South Bronx. In 1983 she was one of the sisters
who pioneered the Newburgh Ministry, an outreach program attempting to meet the needs of an impoverished area in Newburgh, NY. After a sabbatical period spent in Guatemala in 1988 living with women religious from that area, she returned to that country for 8 years. With funding from grants, she established feeding programs for poor children, a program to enable children to attend the local school rather than work in the fields, a library, a program to teach women to use sewing machines to make clothes and other efforts to assist the poor. After her return to the U.S. in 1996, Sr. Irene was in social work ministry at St. Nicholas Tolentine Parish, Bronx, NY for 10 years until her retirement due to illness. She is survived by her sister Virginia Cassell, her nephew John Cassell, and three nieces Kristina Brennan, Irene Cassell and Beth Marshall and many cousins.
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Sr. Kathleen Doyle, FSP
February 3, 1928 - March 13, 2019She was born in Astoria, Queens to William and Catherine McCarthy Doyle on February 3, 1928. She graduated from Bishop McDonnell High School and received a BA in English from Ladycliff College and a MA in English from St. Bonaventure University. Sr. Kathleen entered into the religious community on September 8, 1946 at Mount St. Francis in Peekskill, NY. She professed
her first vows on July 8, 1948 and final vows on July 8, 1953. Her Assignments included St. Leo’s School, Elmwood Park, NJ; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School, NYC; St. Matthew’s School, Hastings, NY; St. Joseph’s Home, Peekskill, NY; Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Home, Bronx, NY; Assisium Business School, NYC; St. Patrick’s School, Yorktown, NY; Ladycliff Academy/Franciscan High School, Mohegan Lake, NY; Crouse Irving Hospital, Syracuse, NY; Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NY; Misericordia Hospital, NYC; Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, NYC; Pelham Bay Mercy Hospital, Bronx, NY; Metropolitan Hospital, NYC; Our Lady of Mercy, D’Urso Pavilion, Bronx, NY; St. Joseph Hospital, Yonkers, NY. She also received an Advanced Certification in Clinical Pastoral Education. Sr. Kathleen is survived by her brother Bill Doyle, Mineola, NY; Sister – Sr. Dolores Doyle, PBVM, Yonkers, NY; niece Mary Marsch, Virginia; nephews Bill Doyle, Indiana and Bud Doyle, Colorado.
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