Sister Regina Kraft, O.P., a Sister of St. Dominic, Amityville, for almost 58 years, died Sept. 5. She was 77.

Born in Brooklyn, she was raised in Cypress Hills, where she attended Blessed Sacrament School and St. Michael H.S., East New York.

She worked for a year before entering the Amityville novitiate on Sept. 11, 1960. She received her habit and religious name, Sister M. Jerilyn on Aug. 5, 1961. She pronounced her vows the following year.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, and a master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University.

Her early ministry was in the field of elementary education, first at St. Thomas the Apostle in Woodhaven.

She was then missioned at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dyker Heights, 1966-70; St. Elizabeth, Ozone Park, 1970-71; and St. Pancras, Glendale, 1971-79.

In 1979, she became the director of religious education at St. Paul the Apostle, Brookville, and served in that capacity until 2009, when she moved into the role of pastoral associate.

At St. Paul’s, her passion for ministry flourished, and she called forth children and adults to use their gifts to serve the Church. For her years of dedicated service, a parish family instituted the Sister Regina Kraft Award.

Her interests included cooking, especially for parish events, and her love of travel brought her to various national parks and to the Canadian Rockies.

After retiring in 2010, she shared life at Regina Pacis and Visitation communities in Williston Park and Copiague, respectively.

Poor health later necessitated a move to Carlin Hall at Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse, Amityville.

She is survived by her brother, Gerard and his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 11 in St. Albert Chapel at the Motherhouse.

Burial followed in the Sisters’ cemetery, Amityville.