Sister Natalie Morris, S.C, formerly Sister Annina Marie, a Sister of Charity-Halifax for 69 years, died on April 21 at the age of 89.
Sister Natalie spent her entire life of ministry in the Diocese of Brooklyn. She was missioned to Saint Sylvester School, Brooklyn, from 1954-57 as a Grade 2 teacher; Saint Sebastian School, Woodside, from 1957-61 in Grades 3,4, and 7; and Our Lady of Angels School, Brooklyn, from 1961-73 in Grades 4 and 6.
In 1973, Sister Natalie took a position as a House Parent in a New York State hostel. In 1974, she and a close friend, Sister Patricia Tobin, SC, established Conklin Residence and together were house parents for exceptional young adults.
Sister Natalie retired and lived at Mount Saint Vincent, Wellesley, Massachusetts, from 2016 until her death. She is survived by her sister, Eulalie Regan of Massachusetts, and her brother, Walter of Florida, many nieces and nephews, and her sisters in community.
A funeral Mass was held on April 28 at Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Wellesley, Massachusetts. Interment was at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Needham, Massachusetts.
Sister Mary Weber was called home to the God she served for 75 years as a Dominican Sister of Amityville, on May 3, the Feast of Philip and James.
Born on Dec. 7, 1928, Mary was educated and raised in St. Joseph Parish, Astoria. On July 7, 1947, Mary entered the Novitiate at Amityville and was invested as a novice on August 4, 1948. She received the name Sister Mary Loreen and pronounced her vows on June 6, 1949.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, and a Master of Science from Fordham University.
In 1949, Sister Mary began her ministry as an educator serving in elementary schools in Brooklyn, Queens, and on Long Island, including Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Jamaica; Corpus Christi in Mineola, New York; Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians School in Woodside; St. Joseph School in Kings Park; Most Holy Trinity in Brooklyn and All Saints School in Brooklyn. Mary also taught at St. Nicholas High School in Brooklyn. From 1973 to 1980, she was the administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Lindenhurst, New York, and of Corpus Christi.
Perhaps due to the strong influence and example of her mother, who had been a nurse in the Armed Forces, Sister Mary began a new ministry in health-related services in 1980. She served as Director of Health Services at Calvary Hospital and at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, Bronx. In 1991 she became vice president of patient-related services at St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, where she was well respected by doctors, nurses, and patients.
Someone coined the phrase “the Dominican Madeline Albright” to describe Sister Mary’s strong leadership skills and caring ways.
She was a gracious, spiritual, warm, and welcoming woman with a wonderful sense of humor who loved life and all who came in contact with her.
Mary is predeceased by her parents, her sisters Theresa, Rita (Sister Teresa Damien), and brother Charles. She is survived by her sister Sabina, nephews, nieces as well as grand nephews and nieces. She is also survived by her dear, longtime and faithful friend Sister Marie Rabuse and by her many loving friends in and outside the congregation.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary was held in St. Albert Chapel in Amityville on Friday, May 6.
Interment followed in the sisters’ cemetery.