Sister Mary Rassley, IHM (formerly known as Sister M. Maron), died on April 25 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Born on Dec. 30, 1931, in Fort Benton, Montana, she was given the name Mary Frances. Sister Mary was the daughter of the late George A. and Katharine Cope Rassley.
She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on Sept. 18, 1950, made temporary profession of her vows on Aug. 2, 1953, and final profession of her vows on Aug. 2, 1956.
Sister Mary received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and a Master of Science degree in elementary education, both from Marywood College.
She served as a teacher and principal in various schools in Idaho, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York.
Sister Mary served on the support staff at Convent of Renewed Life in Middletown, New York (1990-1991). She lovingly cared for her aged family members in Coeur d’Alene (1994 to 2000).
Sister Mary served as transportation coordinator at the Marian Convent in Scranton from 2000 to 2006. Sister served at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton in many capacities from 2006 to 2025.
A funeral and Mass of Christian Burial were offered on May 6 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Dunmore. Interment followed at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania.
Sister Maureen Keating, CSJ, died on May 6 after almost 72 years as a Sister of Saint Joseph of Brentwood.
Growing up in Brooklyn with her brothers, Patrick and Thomas, she attended St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School and graduated from the St. Joseph Juniorate.
After one year of work, Maureen joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph and was given the name Sister Miriam Corde. She began her teaching ministry in the primary grades at St. Robert Bellarmine and then at Queen of All Saints.
Having earned a BA in mathematics/ physics from Saint Joseph, she was sent to teach math at Fontbonne Hall Academy. She loved working with teenagers and realized that much was asked of her beyond the classroom. To better prepare her to meet the holistic needs and daily challenges her students presented, she studied counseling at St. John’s University and enrolled in the diocesan drug education program. In addition to earning a reputation as an outstanding math teacher, she served as a mentor and coordinator at Bishop Kearney High School, Fontbonne, and later at Our Lady of Perpetual Help High School.
During this time, Sister Maureen studied at Manhattan College for an MA in mathematics and certification in school administration. For six years (1980-1986), she served as principal of St. Patrick Elementary School in Long Island City.
She found time to volunteer at New Hope Manor and to serve on various congregational and diocesan committees.
As her journey continued, Sister Maureen was called to minister in a new and different way beginning in 1999. For the next quarter of a century, she was an integral part of the pastoral care team in Maria Regina Residence.
Moving to St. Joseph Convent in 2024, Sister Maureen continued her life of service to her dear sisters and the dedicated staff.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated a week after her passing by Father Tom Poth at Sacred Heart Chapel.
Sister Joan Lenihan, OP, died on May 16 at the age of 91. She had been an Amityville Dominican for almost 73 years.
Joseph and Regina (Hanson) Lenihan welcomed their baby girl on April 27, 1935. A few years later, they had another daughter, Carol, and a son, Tom. The family spent its early years in Brooklyn and later moved to Hewlett, New York.
Joan desired to dedicate her life to God as a religious sister and entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Amityville on Sept.12, 1953.
All the young women who entered that day became known as the Bluebell set. They were invested with the Dominican habit and given their religious names on Aug. 4, 1954.
Joan received her parents’ names and became known as Sister Joseph Regina.
Her first profession of religious vows took place on Aug. 8, 1955, and soon these newly professed sisters received their first ministry assignments.
Sister Joseph Regina went to Good Shepherd Parish in Brooklyn, where she taught in the elementary school for 13 years. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from St. John’s University and a Master of Arts degree in religious studies from Providence College.
In 1968, Joan became principal of Little Flower School in Montauk, New York, and also taught seventh and eighth grade.
Joan served as a pastoral associate at Queen of the Rosary Parish in Bridgehampton, New York, where she was involved with the liturgical, educational, social, and spiritual development of the parish community.
In 1980, Joan moved to Water Mill, initially living in the Villa Maria Gate House and later moving into the convent. She organized and directed the Dominican Education Center, where courses in Christology and the mission of the laity were just two of the many offerings. In the early 1990s, the Siena Spirituality Center was started while Joan was the administrator of Villa Maria. In 1998, Joan moved to Lindenhurst and worked in Amityville in various roles before moving to Rosary Hall and eventually Carlin Hall.
Joan was predeceased by her brother, Tom. She will be missed by her sister, Carol Lenihan, and her nieces — Karen, Sue, Linda, Keli, and Suzanne, as well as by their families.
A wake and funeral were offered in St. Albert Chapel in Amityville on May 21, followed by interment in St. Dominic Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds.