Sister Claudia Bradshaw, CSJ, passed away on May 24 at St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood.
She was born in Brooklyn, the daughter of Richard Bradshaw and Helen Baker, 100 years ago.
Growing up in St. Michael’s Parish, she attended elementary school there and Bishop McDonnell High School, and entered into the Sisters of St. Joseph on Feb. 2, 1945.
Upon completion of her Novitiate, she was missioned to many elementary Schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn, including St. Benedict Joseph Labre, Immaculate Conception of the BVM, Holy Child Jesus, and St. Rita’s, as a primary grades teacher.
For two years (1956-58) she taught at St. John of God in Central Islip, New York.
After receiving her B.A. in education from Manhattan College in 1955 and her M.A. in Italian from Middlebury College in 1958, she was assigned to Bishop McDonnell H.S. (1958-1973) to teach Latin and Italian.
In 1973, she became the opening director of the Frank Alessi Day Care Center. In 1984, Sister Claudia joined the faculty of St. John’s Prep H.S. in Astoria as guidance director for 22 years, after which she remained there for seven more years as a volunteer.
In 1970, Sister Claudia began her ongoing ministry at the Divine Mercy Parish on Conselyea St., Brooklyn, where she was a Eucharistic Minister, leader of the song and folk group, a sacramental preparation leader for children, and director of lectors.
Sister Claudia’s funeral was celebrated on May 30 at Sacred Heart Chapel in Brentwood, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery.
Sister Helen Dolores Byrne, CSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph for almost 72 years, was welcomed into her eternal home on May 19.
Ellen Anne, as she was baptized, grew up in Floral Park and followed in the footsteps of her older sisters Mildred, Margaret, Geraldine, and Catherine, attending Our Lady of Victory Elementary School.
Upon graduating from Sacred Heart Academy, Ellen entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, whom she had grown to know and love as her teachers and guides, and whom she referred to as “valiant nuns.”
She was given the name Sister Helen Dolores and soon embarked on her mission as primary grade teacher. For the next 18 years, she taught at St. Agnes (DeGraw St), St. Mathew, St. Stanislaus Kostka, and Holy Name and earned a B.A. in mathematics from St. Joseph College.
Although she loved teaching young children, Sister Helen felt called to devote herself full time to religious education.
She earned an M.A. in theology from St. John’s University and an M.A. in pastoral ministry/spirituality from St. Joseph College in Hartford, Connecticut.
From 1974 until 1993, Sister Helen served as director of religious education at Holy Name, St. Vincent Ferrer, and Our Lady of Mercy parishes.
Moving to ministry in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Sister Helen became a pastoral associate at St. Agnes Cathedral Parish. Sister Helen loved to travel, whether leading a pilgrimage or exploring with family and friends.
This peaceful, dedicated woman was honored by one of her faithful aides, who sang “I Come to the Garden Alone,” and by her niece, Sister Margie Kelly, who shared family anecdotes prior to the funeral Mass. Bishop William Koenig, who had collaborated with her at St. Agnes and became a dear friend, offered the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Helen in Sacred Heart Chapel on May 28. Burial followed at Calvary Cemetery in Brentwood.
Sister Elizabeth Graham, CSJ (formerly Sister Cor Immaculate), died on May 27, while living in St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood, having recently moved from Resurrection Parish, Brooklyn.
The daughter of James and Elizabeth Graham, Sister Liz, as she was called, attended St. Sebastian Elementary School in Queens and The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica, graduating in 1958, followed by her entrance into the Sisters of St. Joseph.
She received her B.S. in education from Brentwood College in 1963 and, in 1974, her M.A. in mathematics from NYU.
Sister Liz’s interest in education, particularly mathematics, led her to a variety of educational opportunities, beginning in the 1990s when her intellectual pursuits brought her to educational institutions such as Rutgers University, Marymount, Manhattan College, and the New York Institute of Technology.
She taught in many schools, including and especially Christ the King H.S. in Middle Village, as a math teacher and campus minister. Prior to this final assignment, Sister Liz taught math at Bishop Kearney H.S. (1973-81) and served as principal at St. Brendan’s H.S. (1981-86).
Sister Liz’s funeral was celebrated in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood, on June 4 by celebrants Father Joseph Miller and Father Michael Gribbon. Burial followed at Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.
A Priest With ‘Love, Care’ for Others
Father Andrew Varano, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, died on June 14 at age 93.
Father Varano, who was born Oct. 25, 1932, and ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1958, was pastor of St. Francis of Paola Church in Williamsburg from 1987 to 2007.
He also served the Diocese of Brooklyn as parochial vicar for Holy Family Church in Canarsie and St. Francis of Paola.
Msgr. David Cassato, a retired priest of the diocese and deputy chief NYPD chaplain, was the homilist at Father Varano’s funeral Mass.
Msgr. Cassato spoke about how Father Varano came to Holy Family as a young priest in the early 1960s and “took the parish by storm.”
Father Varano guided Msgr. Cassato into the seminary.
In his homily, Msgr. Cassato said Father Varano “truly was a man of charity. … His greatest concern was always the people of the parish. He loved the people of the parish.”
He noted Father Varano’s 38 years of service to St. Francis of Paola Church and said, “Everyone in this church can tell you stories, memories of this great priest, a legend in his own time.”
Msgr. Cassato said, “Never forget the love, the care, the concern that Father Andrew Varano had for each of us.”
He added that this concern and love for others lasted to his last days in the hospital, where he would bless fellow patients.
The funeral Mass for Father Varano was celebrated on June 22 at St. Francis of Paola.
Bishop Robert Brennan was the principal celebrant.
Burial followed at St. John Cemetery in Middle Village.