Sister Mary Vitoline Wolf, S.S.N.D., a lifelong teacher who served more than 40 years at The Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, N.J., died of heart disease on Jan. 20 at Lourdes Health Care Center in Wilton, Conn. She was 97 years old and had been a professed member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 74 years.
Marie Elizabeth Wolf was born in Ridgewood. She attended St. Matthias parish school; graduated at age 15 from Bishop McDonnell H.S., Brooklyn; and attended Drake’s Business School, Brooklyn.
She worked as a secretary in a title search office for three years, while volunteering her sewing skills to the Christ Child Society, before persuading her parents to agree to her enter ing the convent.
In August, 1934, she entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Baltimore. She was given the religious name Mary Vitoline and made her first vows in August, 1937.
She taught in Rochester, Baltimore, and for 37 years at the Academy of Holy Angels, Demarest, N.J.
She was the last surviving member of six siblings, including the late Father Matthias Wolf, a priest of the Brooklyn Diocese.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Jan. 25, at the chapel at Villa Notre Dame in Wilton. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bethel, Conn.
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Sister Joan Dodge, (Mary Eucharia), R.S.M., 85, a member of the Brooklyn Sisters of Mercy for 65 years, died Jan. 21 at Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood, L.I.
Holder of degrees from St. John’s University and Manhattan College, she taught at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset, 1950-52; Mercy Juniorate, Brooklyn, 1952-59; St. Mary’s, Balboa, Panama, 1959-60; St. Mary’s, Roslyn, L.I., 1960-61; Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Syosset, 1961-72; Cathedra McAuley H.S., East Flatbush, 1975; and she was an adjunct professor at Fordham University, Huntington, L.I., 1994.
From 1975 to 1982, she worked as a pastoral associate at St. Nicholas parish, Williamsburg. For many years, she also was involved in retreat work and spiritual direction at St. Edward’s, Syosset; St. Nicholas, Williamsburg; Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Wyandanch; Mariandale Retreat Center, Ossining; and Emmaus Retreat House in upstate New York.
In 1994, she retired to the Convent of Mercy, Brooklyn, and remained there until 2003 when she was admitted to Maria Regina.
She is survived by her brother, Chester Dodge, and sisters, Virginia Dodge and Carol VanDorf.
Interment was at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, L.I.
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Kathleen O’Sullivan-O’Donnell, 60, a longtime educator and administrator in the Brooklyn Diocese, died Jan. 12 following a battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Mill Basin, she attended Mary, Queen of Heaven School, Old Mill Basin, and St. Agnes Seminary, Marine Park. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Joseph’s College, Clinton Hill; a master’s degree in education from Fordham University, Lincoln Center; and a professional diploma in administration and supervision from Fordham.
In 1973, her teaching career began at Our Lady of Angels School, Bay Ridge. She went on to serve as assistant personnel director in the diocesan education dept.; director of guidance at Nazareth Regional H.S., Flatbush; and as an instructor in the education dept. at St. John’s University, Staten Island Campus.
She was the first lay principal of Visitation Academy, Bay Ridge, 1996- 2002; and was principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Kensington, 2002-07. She briefly returned to the diocesan education department, serving as a liaison for principal and teacher affairs, until her retirement in 2009.
She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Richard; their daughter Kathleen; two brothers, Frank and Joseph; and a sister, Anne.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Jan. 16 at Mary, Queen of Heaven Church. Interment followed at St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.
