Former principal of St. Bernadette School, Dyker Heights, Sister Claire Grieco, M.P.F., died Oct. 8 at St. Joseph Hall, Villa Walsh, Morristown, N.J. She was 83.

Born in Long Branch, N.J., in 1930, Sister Claire entered the Religious Teachers Filippini in 1949, received her habit in 1950 and made her religious profession in 1953.

She was awarded a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fordham University and attended Rider University for business education.

She taught elementary school in the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J. (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Orange, N.J., and Holy Family, Nutley, N.J.); Diocese of Trenton, N.J. (St. James and St. Joachim); Diocese of Baltimore (Our Lady of Pompei); Archdiocese of New York (St. Ann, Harlem); Diocese of Providence, R.I. (St. Mary’s, Cranston, R.I., and Sacred Heart, Natick, R.I.); Diocese of Metuchen, N.J. (St. Mary of Mt. Virgin, New Brunswick, N.J.); and Diocese of Camden, N.J. (Paul VI H.S., Haddonfield, N.J.).

Sister Claire was the superior and principal at St. Bartholomew School, Scotch Plains, N.J.; Holy Trinity School, Long Branch; St. Ann School, Raritan, N.J.; and locally at St. Bernadette School, Dyker Heights, 1993-99.

Sister Claire was honored in 1992 by the Metuchen Diocese for Excellence in Education. In 1999, she was appointed administrator of her community’s Villa Walsh’s home health care center, then known as Freytag Hall.

In 2005, St. Joseph Hall, a new health care facility at Villa Walsh, was ready for occupancy. Sister Claire was instrumental in setting a new direction for this latest building. Administering at St. Joseph Hall was the summit of her ministry and offered her great fulfillment.

She remained in this position until she, herself, entered the infirmary as a patient, where she remained until her passing to eternal life.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Oct. 14 at Villa Walsh. Interment followed at Ave Maria Cemetery, Villa Walsh.