Sister Patricia Dolores Wagner, O.P., a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Amityville, for 62 years, died suddenly Dec 26. She was 82 years old.
Born in Canarsie, she attended Catherine McAuley H.S., for a couple of years. She encountered the Dominican Sisters when she accompanied her mother on a retreat at Our Lady of Prouille Retreat House in Amityville.
She entered the congregation in 1955 and the following year she received her habit and religious name, Sister Marymel. She pronounced her vows on Aug. 8, 1957.
After studies at St. Francis College, Brooklyn, and Fordham University, Bronx, she taught at St. Patrick’s, Bay Ridge; Notre Dame, New Hyde Park; Christ the King, Commack; St. Elizabeth, Ozone Park; and St. Frances de Chantal, Borough Park.
In 1974, she began teaching mathematics at St. Michael H.S., Brooklyn, and later at Dominican Commercial H.S. in Jamaica. In the late 1970s, she began teaching computer programming at Dominican Commercial. While teaching at Dominican Commercial, she resided at Bethany Convent, L’Chayim Community, Elmhurst, and Notre Dame Convent, New Hyde Park.
From 1998 to 2000, she was a mathematics tutor at Molloy College. In 2000 she became financial assistant at Holy Spirit School, New Hyde Park, and in 2005 an administrative assistant for specialized ministries. She retired in 2009 after more than 50 years in active ministry. Burial was in the Sisters’ Cemetery in Amityville.
Sister Marymel was my first grade teacher and I remember her as creative in the classroom and endlessly kind to me as I cried my way through every day of that first school year. She had only been a sister for a few years at the time and I am glad my wailing didn’t scare her off! She patiently taught us arithmetic, writing, and phonics and I still remember her rhymes and songs that she had us memorize. Most important she taught us the Faith that I treasure and practice to this day. Sister Marymel also did me a huge favor when she facilitated a friendship on the playground between me and a classmate, Colleen Rochford, that endured for a lifetime…until Colleen’s death a few years ago.
Thank you Sister Marymel. You are one of a kind!
With love and appreciation,
Eileen McCartin Love
I knew her when she lived in Brooklyn NY and worked at Prentice Hall. She was always smiling and joking. A good friend.