Memorials

Received between December 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023

John J. Connors

Mr. & Mrs. Robert McGrail

Mrs. Kathryn DeChiaro

Andrew Kavulich & Christine Papa

Christina Curry

Mr. & Mrs, Jim Rose

Mr. James Holihan

Mr. & Mrs. David McAleer

Ms. Elizabeth Quartermaine

Ms. Rita Longo

Mr. & Mrs. Samuel J. Belmonti

Ms. Maryanne Pierce

Mrs. Terry Laudone

Ms. Diane Britz

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ford

Mr. & Mrs. Neil Sullivan

Ms. Virginia Foy

Mr. & Mrs. Harry Bacon

Ms Donna J. Andreassi

Mr. & Mrs. Ricahrd Beggs

Ms. Barbara Stack

Mr. & Mrs. William J. Bielefeld

Ms. Kathleen Elliott

Mr. & Mrs. George Dougherty

Ms. Mary H. Champlain

Mr. Joseph Siniscalchi

Mr. & Mrs. John C. Durtisch

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Zamparelli

Ms. Kerry Guerriero

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony S. Lobat

Ms. Eileen Mealia

Ms. Angela T. Larca

Ms. Clare Sasak

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Guerra

Ms. Claire Dembinski

McGurie Family

Ms. Joan Costa

Joseph Papa & Marylee Pratnicki

Mrs. Donna Sarno

Diana Rodriguez

Ms. Mary Falzarano

Ms. Nana LaBruna

Ms. Francoise Spano

Mrs. Rosemarie Saunders

RoseMary “Honey” Clair

Ms. Janice Collins

Ms. Elizabeth Bogert

Partners Circle National Board of Trustees

Hon. Judge McCaffery

Sunny Rapp

Myriam S. Roe

Ms. Stephanie Garzarella

Ms. Linda Schlachter

Angela Sledden

Dr. Elizabeth Sledden Dybell

William Bushnell

Ms. Patrice Enyart

Lillian Brunetti

Mr. Wally Brunetti

Oscar Sumange

Ms. Janice Collins

Phillip Clark

Mr. & Mrs. Larry A. Wilson

James DeLuna

Ms. Carol Kasper

Santo DeLuna

Ms. Carol Kasper

Aleta Abellar

Mrs. Dely Go

Donna Vitalino

Mrs. Frances Pellicione

Alma Auxiliary Curcio

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Curcio

Gloria Favata

Mr. Nelson T. Alderman

My Name Address

Detach & mail in the enclosed envelope. Please make checks payable to SALESIAN SISTERS

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Morabito

Ms. Yolanda Doerr

Ms. Gabriella Hartpence

Ms. Nellie Danzi

Ms. Palma Quagliata

Mr. & Mrs. Russell Malko

Mr. Raymond Federici

Marie Sisco

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Scillieri

Tributes

Sr. Rosalie Di Peri, FMA, 99th Birthday

Mrs. Maria Gloria

Sr. Amy Nguyen, FMA

Mr. Peter Bui

Rest in peace, Sr. Roberte Johnson, FMA, who died on November 25, 2022 at age 90. She was a trailblazer, as the first professed Salesian Sister from Canada.

Sr. Roberte recalled her decision to join the Salesian Sisters. On June 24, 1951, when Roberte was 18, her home parish in St. Louis-de-Kent, New Brunswick, celebrated the canonization of St. Mary Mazzarello. The parish priest carried a portrait in a procession. “I can still see Mary’s eyes following me,” Sr. Roberte recalled. Shortly afterward, she left for North Haledon, NJ, to begin her postulancy. After her first profession, she taught for one year before returning to Canada in 1955 to join a new school in Pointe-Verte, New Brunswick.

Known for her radiant smile, Sr. Roberte lived a full life as a Salesian Sister. In her 68 years of religious life she served in many different roles as teacher, animator, bursar, coordinator for the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) and past pupils, and a catechist.

Rest in peace, RoseMary “Honey” Seifert Clair, the mother of Sr. Colleen Clair, FMA and Salesian Sisters Partners Circle National Board Chairman Dennis Clair. She died on December 19, 2022 at the age of 94.

Honey and her husband, Joseph, had 16 children. They made many sacrifices to give all a solid Catholic education and opportunities to develop their gifts.

Honey was a delightful, vivacious presence and a warm mother figure to many Salesian Sisters. Every Sister she met, she “adopted” into her wider Clair family, which at its most recent “Clair Family Vacation” gathering boasted more than 120 members, including 65 grandchildren and 68 great-grandchildren, with three more on the way.

Honey’s passing, having lived, in her own words, “a life filled with love and fun,” is truly one of Christian hope. Although it contains sorrow, it is full of confidence in God’s promise of heavenly reunion.

It was Sr. Roberte’s love for music and her ability to share this love with the young and old alike that gave her great joy. Even up to the last few months of her life, she would play the piano for the community during recreation.

“As our first Canadian Sister, I am sure that Sr. Roberte is putting a good word in for us and asking Our Lady to send many vocations to our Province, especially Canada,” shares Sr. Joanne Holloman, FMA, Provincial Superior.

Sr. Roberte is survived by her biological sister, Sr. Estelle Johnson, FMA.

Rest in peace, John J. Connors, one of the original members of the Salesian Sisters Partners Circle National Board. He died on December 12, 2022 at the age of 81.

John sat on the Partners Circle Board for one year in 1991-1992 before deciding he could be more effective for the Sisters “on the outside.” Many will remember John and his beloved wife, Pat, as hard-working volunteers at the annual Spring and Christmas parties in North Haledon, NJ, greeting everyone with a smile.

John’s career in the banking and financial services industry lasted 40 years and included serving as President of Boston Financial Data Services in Quincy, MA, and President and Partner of Colson Services Corp. in New York. He and Pat retired to Bonita Springs, FL, in 2014.

John was quick to light up a room with laughter, but even quicker to offer his friendship or a helping hand to anyone in need. “Gentleman Jack” will be lovingly remembered by many.

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS ACADEMY, North

Haledon, NJ – Brava! to the Mary Help choir who performed onstage at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City, before a performance of the Christmas Spectacular Show with the world-famous Rockettes. Toni Bilotti Cecere conducted the choir, who were joined by their counterparts at our brother high school, Don Bosco Prep. This was the first musical collaboration between the two schools and the students performed to great acclaim!

At left, Mary Help hosted a Giving Tree for Christmas, with much success thanks to the generosity of the school families and other local partner organizations. Toys were delivered in time for Christmas joy to the Catholic Charities Fr. English Community Center and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, both located in Paterson, NJ. The receiving organizations were happy to distribute the toys to the neediest families.

Villa Madonna Campus, Tampa

Villa Madonna Campus, Tampa

Pavilion readies to open before summer heat

Pavilion readies to open before summer heat

At right, Sr. Lou Ann Fantauzza, Villa Principal, is thrilled by the Pavilion’s concession room full of top-line equipment. Thank you, Richard and Melanie Gonzmart!

Excitement builds at Villa Madonna School in Tampa, FL, as the Pavilion and Renovation Project comes close to being finished, just in time for a hot Florida summer! We are grateful to friends and the community who have come together to make this $3.6 million project a reality for the kids. We still have $433,000 to raise. Please help us cross the finish line by the first day of summer, June 21! Visit www.villapavilion.com or call Theresa Anderson: (813) 205-3195. Thank you!

SALESIAN SCHOOLS ! ST. THERESA SCHOOL, Kenilworth, NJ

– To celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, second graders did a writing assignment to explain Dr. King’s dream and write down their own dreams for the world.

They also learned a simple lesson in racial equality (left) using white and brown eggs. When the eggs were cracked open, the children noticed there was no difference on the inside. They learned that all people are the same and everyone looks different, but they should all be treated fairly. Showing off their projects are Mia Chaves, Benjamin Selemi, Nyah Harris, and Jacob Westervelt.

CORPUS CHRISTI

HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL, Port Chester, NY – The seventh- grade class hosted a “Mystery Bag” fundraiser on January 17 to support the Fr. Peter Rinaldi Gala, the school’s largest annual fundraiser, scheduled for this May. Using toys graciously donated by the Salesian Sisters’ Development Office during the Christmas season, students stuffed nearly 200 brown bags with toys and treats, making over $390.

Students labeled and decorated the brown bags in art class and stuffed them in the basement of the Sisters’ convent during study hall. They made order forms for the Pre-K, UPK, and kindergarten students, and promoted the fundraiser at the morning assembly. The fundraiser sold out after the first day.

“This was not only a formative teambuilding experience, but also a service-learning opportunity for my students,” says Sr. Boram Lee, FMA, the seventh-grade teacher. “They learned practical business skills while supporting our school that we all love so much.”