Sister Doris Marie Batt, CSJ, formerly Sister Stephen Marita, passed away on Nov. 23, 2023, at age 92, having been a Sister of St. Joseph for 74 years. Sister Doris grew up in Holy Name of Mary Parish, Valley Steam, and attended the Parish school there and St. Joseph Juniorate High School.
Upon entering the community after her Novitiate in 1949, Sister Doris began her teaching ministry in Holy Cross, St. Mary Mother of Jesus, St. Malachy’s and St. Robert Bellarmine schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn, followed by two years in St. Anne’s School, Brentwood.
In 1961 she received her BS in education from St. John’s University and, having received a call to work with deaf children, prepared for this assignment at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf and Canisius College, Buffalo, receiving an MS in deaf education in 1964. Thus began her 20 years of education for deaf students at Cleary School for the Deaf in Ronkonkoma, as teacher, principal and superintendent.
In conjunction with the NYS Education Department and the Cleary Board of Directors, she initiated a mainstreamed High School program at Mercy HS, Riverhead, in 1979 which continues today in the East Islip School District.
Sister Doris extended herself to all those who became part of her religious and ministerial life, which included sisters on vacation at St. Thomas Villa, Monticello, special folks at Neumann Residence in Manhasset, and those in the RCIA program at St. Patrick’s Parish, Bay Shore.
With much experience in financial matters, Sister Doris also served at Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, The Academy of St. Joseph, Brentwood, and on the staff of the CSJ finance office.
Sister Doris spent 30 happy years in a community convent in Bay Shore, and in 2020 moved to St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood, for assisted care, where she shared her good humor and prayerful final days.
Her funeral Mass was celebrated by Father Sean Gann on Dec. 1, 2023, in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood. Sister Doris requested cremation, and as such her burial will occur at a later date.