Obituaries

Born and raised Rosalie Elizabeth Bartus in Roebling, N.J., she entered the religious order in 1942, took her first vow in 1944, and final vows in 1951.
Sister Raimonde earned an associate degree in business from Rider University in New Jersey, and a bachelor’s summa cum laude in education, and a master’s and Ph.D. in history, from Fordham University.

Assigned to education ministry in Connecticut, Ohio, New Jersey, and New York, she served on the faculty of St. Joseph Hill Academy High School from 1956 to 1984, and chaired the social studies department.

She worked as an archivist for her religious order from 1984 to 1985 in Vienna, Austria, and taught at Xaverian High School in Brooklyn from 1985 to 1986.
Sister Raimonde returned to St. Joseph Hill in 1986, teaching history, sociology, and speech, until her retirement three years ago. She was moderator and producer-director for the school’s drama club for 25 years, and forensic coach for two decades. She also initiated the Advanced Placement program at Hill, and was instrumental in developing the St. John’s University Extension Program at the school.

Her long career included posts as adjunct professor at Seton Hall University, from 1968 to 1971, and lecturer at Wagner College from 1969 to 1973. She also served part-time in the Office of the Archdiocesan Superintendent, and the Office of the Secretary of Education for the Archdiocese of New York, and was liaison for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese for the Bicentennial Scholars.

Sister Raimonde “had a great love for our Order, and was devoted to the charism of our foundress, Mother Franziska Lechner,” said Sister Denise Martin, the superior at St. Joseph Hill convent.

“She was a brilliant woman who could answer any questions you could ask her,” added Sister Josita DiVita, a friend for almost 60 years. “She was a delight to be with, and a very good friend.”

“Most of all, she really loved God,” said Mary Jane Truckenbrodt, a colleague at St. Joseph Hill since 1974. “She was a very honest person, and anything she said, you knew was true. She was a professional historian, very accurate and precise, and always saw things from an historical point of view.

“She would get things out of her students that they never knew they had,” she added. “She coached Stephanie Seminara, who was the first girl to win the National Forensic League and Catholic Forensic League championships in competition with boys.”

Sister Raimonde was an avid reader, favoring mysteries and historical literature, and enjoyed crossword puzzles, including the challenge of those in the New York Times Sunday magazine. She also traveled to the Light Opera of Manhattan every Friday evening, where she served as an usher, colleagues said.

She was cited as Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the National Catholic Educational Association, and was inducted into the National Forensic League and New York Catholic Forensic League halls of fame. She received the Patrick Daly Award from the then borough president Guy Molinari for her work as an educator.

Sister M. Ernestine Jeck, F.D.C. was called home to God on May 21, 2012. Born Josephine on October 16, 1916 in Manhattan, to Peter and Madelen Jeck. She was the youngest of three children. When she was just a baby her father died in a tragic accident and her mother needed child care for her little one. A friend told her that the Sisters who operate St. Mary’s Residence on 72 St. were opening a boarding school on what was then very rural Staten Island.

In 1934, drawn by the example of the Sisters who educated her and helped her mother raise her, Josephine entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Divine Charity and took the name Sister Mary Ernestine.

Her first teaching assignment after religious profession was in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Subsequently she taught in several schools in the East and Midwest. In 1952, she returned to her home on Staten Island, St. Joseph Hill Academy.

Today, there are many women who have happy memories of Sister Ernestine as their third grade or fourth grade teacher. Those who experienced her kindness in their early years were happy when Sister was assigned to the high school faculty as a religious studies teacher and the librarian in 1958.

During her entire career, her primary objective was to teach her students about God’s love for them and to foster a personal relationship with Jesus.

Anyone who knew Sister Ernestine either as a teacher, librarian or friend could always count on her to a smile and a kind word.

We hope that Sister Ernestine’s smile is now glowing with the sight of the Lord whole loved her throughout her long life and that she will be present to us with her prayers as we try to be, like her, messengers of God’s abiding love and care. All of us, Sisters, family and friends, thank God for the gift of the life of this lovely Sister!

 

Sister Mary Dolora Luptak, F.D.C entered her eternal reward on November 15, 2011. Baptised in the Lutheran religion of her father, Sister Dolora became a Catholic and at the age of 18 entered the Daughters of Dicing Charity, Her parents were at first opposed to her decision, but relented when she threatened to enter a more severe congregations and venture to treat lepers!

Sister Dolora began her teaching career in elementary schools staffed by the Daughters of Divine Charity in New Jersey, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, and Michigan. In 1967, she came to St. Joseph Hill Academy in Staten Island and began her career as a high school teacher. Sister specialized in Social Studies for many years.

Ever the adventurer, Sister Dolora led her students on unforgettable academic trips. One year Sister Dolora spent time with students in Kenya. She also ventured as far as Hong Kong to participate in a cultural and historical workshop with colleagues.

Sister M. Clavaria Horvath, F.D.C. died on November 3, 2011. Sister Clavaria was born on September 28, 1917 in Toledo, Ohio. She entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Divine Charity in 1935 and professed her first vows in 1937.

Sister Clavaria was a kind and loving person who willingly accepted any task given to her. She loved teaching and received special joy teaching the Second Grade where she prepared the children of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and for First Holy Communion. She was particularly proud that one of her Second Graders, Phil Mickelson, the professional golfer, but was quick to remind you that she prayed equally for all her past students.

In 1994, Sister Clavaria received an award from the Diocese of San Bernadino, California for 59 years of service to Catholic education.

Sister Clavaria was very interested in how this new home was coming together. While the crew was visiting the convent for the production of the “Building a Home” video, Sister Clavaria spent many hours smiling for the camera and praying for the cameramen and director. She spent quit some time talking to the film crew about her years as a teacher. She was also curious about the ins and outs of their careers making movies.

Sister Clavaria spent her retirement years at the St. Joseph Hill Convent and when our dear Lord came to take her by the hand to her heavenly home, dear Sister Clavaria was more than ready!

Sister Mary Christopher, F.D.C. died on August 21, 2011. A Daughter of Divine Charity for over 60 years, she was born Rose Chorba on August 9, 1923 in Trenton, New Jersey to Joseph and Mary Stadler Chorba.

After attending local public high school, Rose entered the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity at St. Joseph Hill on Staten Island. Sr. Christopher completed her postulancy and novitiate and professed her vows in 1944.

With the exception of two years teaching in elementary schools in Indiana, Sister Christopher spent the entirety of her teaching career at St. Joseph Hill Academy on Staten Island. She taught in the elementary school of the Academy from 1943-1949. She then taught Science and Math in the high school there until the 1990’s. Instruction in her classes was rigorous and thorough

Sister Christopher served as a Provincial Councilor beginning in the 1970’s and with Sr. Albert was co-treasurer of the St. Joseph Province during the late 1980’s. She was transferred to California and spent a few years working in St. Therese Parish, San Diego, and St. Joseph Parish in Fontana.

After having some health setbacks, Sr. Christopher returned to St. Joseph Hill Convent and lived there until she required more specialized care. She then resided, until her passing, at Eger Health and Rehabilitation Center on Staten Island.

Sr. Christopher treasured her family, her religious community, and her friends. She kept up a voluminous correspondence with very many of them up to her last days. When poor eyesight and diminished handwriting skills prevented her from writing herself, her long time faithful friend Marie Stewart became her scribe and maintained these contacts by getting all those “dictated” missives out.

Sr. Christopher kept her spiritual and intellectual life enriched and vibrant. This was aided by the many books and audio tapes she received from her friends. Whenever the possibility presented itself and when she was physically able, she returned to St. Joseph Hill convent for retreats, days of recollection and other community events. Participation in the life of her religious community was greatly important to her.

She will be missed by her many friends and will most assuredly revel in the company of her Lord, and her favorite Saints and friends in the Communion of Saints.

Sister M. Concepta (Margaret) Petresky, 92, a member of the Daughters of Divine Charity and a teacher who was known for her keen sense of humor and her exquisite needlepoint embroidery, died on April 15, 2011 in St. Joseph Hill Convent, Arrochar.

Born in Freemansburg, Pa., to parents who emigrated from Hungary, Sister Concepta came to St. Joseph Hill Convent in 1934 and professed her first vows in 1940.
Sister Concepta taught at St. Joseph Hill Academy and a number of elementary and junior high schools in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Indiana staffed by the Daughters of Divine Charity.

She was known to her students for her sharp wit and creativity.

“She had a great sense of humor,” said Sister Denise Martin, superior at St. Joseph Hill Convent. “Anything you said, she had a joke for it, even until the end.”
In 1978, Sister Concepta transferred to Villa Madonna in Hackettstown, N.J., where she was of help to the elderly and infirm sisters there because she loved to drive, taking them to outside appointments and helping them do their shopping and errands.

Her sense of humor endeared her to local merchants, who were generous with food and gifts to the convent and for fundraisers there.

Her needlework talent can also be seen in framed works of cross-stitch embroidery, including the motto and emblem of the Daughters of Divine Charity at the entrance to St. Joseph Hill Convent.

Sister Concepta is survived by many nieces and nephews.