Sister Lucy Mary Blyskal, C.S.J., a Sister of St. Joseph for 61 years, died on June 23.
She entered the congregation in 1959 from Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish, Sunset Park.
Sister Lucy obtained an MA in Biblical Studies from Providence College in 1973; a JCL in Canon Law from Catholic University in 1986 and a JCD in 1987.
Her ministries included: St. Frances de Chantal, Wantagh (1963-67); Bishop McDonnell HS, Brooklyn (1967-69); Sisters of St. Joseph (clerical) (1969- 70); Principal of St. Pascal Baylon HS, St. Albans (1970-76); Director of Postulants, Brentwood (1976-78); Director of Novitiate, Brentwood (1978-84); Diocese of Rockville Centre, Tribunal Judge/Exec. Sec’y/Due Process (1995); RVC Vice Chancellor (1995); Sisters of St. Joseph, General Councillor (2000-11); RVC, Co-Chancellor (2011-14).
She was a Canon Law lecturer at Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, and adjunct professor of Theology at St. Joseph College, Clinton Hill. She was also a member of the Permanent Diaconate Board of Rockville Centre Diocese.
Sister Lucy was a member of the Canon Law Society of America (CLSA) for 34 years. She co-authored the 1995 CLSA book “The Canonical Implications of Ordaining Women to the Permanent Diaconate.” She is also the author of “The Current Canon Law and Diaconate for Women,” delivered at the International Conference in Germany, April 1-4, 1997.
She was Canon Lawyer, teacher, Tribunal Judge and Vice-Chancellor for the Rockville Center Diocese and served on the Leadership Team as councillor from 2000-2011.
Sister Claire Veronica Kobe, C.S.J., a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 74 years, died on July 27.
She was an outstanding educator, initially teaching elementary grades in Our Lady of Sorrows, Holy Name and our Lady of Snows.
Sister Claire earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from St. John’s University and a Master’s degree in Sacred Scripture and History of Modern Russia Literature from St. Bonaventure. She taught Religion in St. Joseph HS, Downtown Brooklyn, Stella Maris HS, Far Rockaway, and her beloved Sacred Heart Academy HS, Hempstead.
She spent time outside of the classroom ministering in pastoral care at the Neponsit Nursing Home and Peninsula Hospital.
Her funeral Mass was held in the Joan de Lourdes Room on July 31 followed by her interment in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.
Sister Dolores Jean McLaughlin, C.S.J., a Sister of St. Joseph for 68 years, died on Sept. 17.
Sister Dolores entered the Congregation in 1952 from St. Martin of Tours Parish, Bushwick. She earned a BA from St. John’s University in 1966 followed by her ministerial work.
Her ministries included: Holy Name, Windsor Terrace (1954-61); Visitation, Red Hook (1961-64); St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands (1964-65); St. Michael, Flushing (1966-69); St. Christopher, Baldwin, Principal (1969-80, 1980-2004); Parish Associate, St. Christopher (2004-05).
Her funeral Mass was held in St. Christopher Church. She was interred in Calvary Cemetery in Brentwood.
Sister Elaine Margaret Roulet, C.S.J., formerly Sister Jeanne Margarite, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 71 years, died on Aug. 13 at Stella Maris Convent.
Sister Elaine earned a BA from St. Joseph’s College in 1966 and an MS in Counseling from Bank Street College of Education in 1973. She was the recipient of Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Joseph’s College, Fordham University, Niagara University and St. Francis College. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993.
Her ministries included: St. Angela Hall Academy, Clinton Hill (1951-55); St. Robert Bellarmine, Bayside (1955-57); Our Lady of Victory, Bedford-Stuyvesant (1957-65); St. Matthew, Crown Heights, and St. Ambrose, Bedford Stuyvesant (1966-68); St. Gabriel, East New York, Principal (1968-73); Bedford Hills Correction Facility (1973-99); Providence House Director (1999-2005); Bedford Hills Correction Facility, Prison Chaplain, Bedford Hills (2005) .
Her wake and funeral Mass were live streamed to all the Congregational houses followed by her interment in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.
Sister Florence Symes, C.S.J., a Sister of St. Joseph for 70 years, died on May 19. She entered the congregation in 1950.
She earned a BA degree in English from St. Joseph College in 1966; an MA in Theology from St. John’s University in 1969 followed by an MS in 1977. In 1988 she completed her post-graduate work in Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary followed by studies in Spirituality at Fordham University, 1999.
Her ministries included: Mary’s Nativity, Flushing (1952-56); St. Augustine, Park Slope (1956-58); St. John the Evangelist, Sunset Park (1958-62); Epiphany, Williamsburg (1962-64); St. Joseph, Prospect Heights (1964-66); Our Lady of Victory, Floral Park DRE (1966-69); St. Pascal Baylon, St. Albans (1969-70); St. Brendan HS, Midwood (1970-75) ; Our Lady of Victory, Floral Park DRE (1975-85); St Aidan, Williston Park, DRE (1985-92); SS Philip & James, St. James DRE (1992-95); St. Mark, Sheepshead Bay DRE (1995-97); Our Lady of the Cenacle, Richmond Hill (1997-2001).
Sister Patricia Maris Tully, C.S.J, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 74 years, died on Nov. 13.
She entered the Congregation in 1946 from St. Thomas Aquinas , Flatlands.
She earned a BA degree in Business from St. John’s University in 1956 and an MA degree from Hunter College in 1968.
Her ministries included: St. Francis Xavier, Brooklyn (1948-49); St. Rose of Lima, Brooklyn (1949-51); Immaculate Conception, Jamaica (1951-1952); St. Joseph, Pacific Street, Brooklyn (1952-1953); Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn (1953-1957); St. Augustine, Brooklyn (1957- 59); St. Frances de Chantal, Wantagh (1959-63); St. Thomas Aquinas, Brooklyn (1963-66); St. Teresa of Avila, Brooklyn (1966-68); St. Clare, Rosedale (1968-69); St. Joseph HS, Brooklyn (1969-77); Bishop Kearney HS, Brooklyn (1977-2004). She retired in 2004.
Her wake and funeral Mass were held in St. Ephrem’s, Brooklyn, followed by her interment in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.