Sister Mary Benedict Holt, C.S.J., a Sister of St. Joseph for 72 years, passed away Feb. 27 at Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood, L.I.

Sister Benedict, named Joan Helen, entered the congregation in 1948 from St. Rose of Lima parish, Brooklyn. She earned a BS in French from St. John’s University in 1963 and an MS in French from Queens College in 1971. She also attended Administration and Theology courses from S.U.N.Y. and Fordham/St. John’s Universities in 1973 and 1979.

Sister Benedict’s ministries included: St. Teresa of Avila, Prospect Heights (1950-1952); St. Cecilia, Greenpoint (1952-1954); St. James, Downtown Brooklyn (1954-1958); Holy Cross, Flatbush (1958-1960); Immaculate Conception, Jamaica (1960-1963); St. Joseph, Hewlett (1963-1964); Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Long Island City (1964-1966); St. Clare, Rosedale, (1966-1971); Principal of St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, Bensonhurst (1971-1978); Religious Education Director at Immaculate Conception (1978-1980); Our Lady of Victory, Floral Park (1980-1992); Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood (1991-1997).

While in Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park, Sister Benedict initiated a French program for Junior High students, an innovation for that time.

Her funeral Mass took place March 3 at Maria Regina Chapel, Brentwood. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery.