Sister Catherine Mary Stasi, (Sister Marian Consilio), a Sister of Saint Joseph for almost 69 years, passed away peacefully on April 7, a week shy of her 89th birthday.
The daughter of Frances and Vincenzo Stasi from Castellaneta, Italy, she grew up in Brooklyn with her loving sisters and brothers. She graduated from Queen of All Saints Elementary School and Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School, and two years later responded to God’s invitation to become a Sister of Saint Joseph.
Sister Marian Consilio embarked on a teaching ministry that began in her own elementary school and continued in Holy Child Jesus, Saint Stanislaus Kostka (Maspeth), Our Lady of Victory (Brooklyn), and Bishop Kearney Diocesan High School.
A graduate of Saint Joseph’s College, Sister studied Mathematics at Brooklyn College and Seton Hall University and was called to serve as assistant principal and principal at Our Lady of Victory, Martin de Porres West, and Bedford-Stuyvesant Catholic Junior High School.
While assuming the duties of Administrator of Saint Joseph Villa in Hampton Bays in 1978, Sister Catherine taught Math at Saint Joseph High School and Sacred Heart Academy and served in the Finance Offices at the Academy of Saint Joseph and Sacred Heart Academy.
Sister Catherine was a true “Sister of the neighborhood” in her attention and care for her students and their families, and in the gracious welcome she extended to Sisters from various religious congregations and laywomen who came to Saint Joseph Villa for retreat or vacation during her more than 25 years as Administrator. Her many nieces and nephews, as well as her family of Sisters, are grateful for Sister Catherine having been a part of their lives and for offering to each one her “listening heart.”
Father Ralph Sommer, Pastor of Saint Bernard’s in Levittown where Sister lived for almost 40 years, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial on April 12 in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood.
Sister Saint Philip Kiely, (Kathleen), a Sister of Saint Joseph for almost 73 years, entered into Eternal Life on April 28 at age 93 while residing at Saint Joseph Convent.
Kathleen graduated from Saint Francis de Sales and Stella Maris High School, and on September 8, 1949, entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
Sister Saint Philip began her teaching ministry in Our Lady of Good Counsel and continued with the first grade in Saint Michael (Brooklyn) and Holy Name of Mary. She went on to teach 7th and 8th grades in Saint Patrick (Long Island City) and back at Saint Michael.
Sister earned a BA from Saint John’s University and an MA in Business Administration from Hunter College. For two years she taught at Saint Pascal Baylon High School and then joined the faculty at Saint Francis Prep in the Business Department. For more than 40 years she was a valued member of the Prep community as a teacher, colleague, and friend.
A quiet, prayerful woman, she was kindness personified, truly manifesting a deep love of God and neighbor as a Sister of Saint Joseph, as a member of the Franciscan community at Prep and at Our Lady of Victory Parish where she resided and worshiped for many years.
In recognition of the esteem in which Sister Saint Philip was held, Saint Francis Prep bestowed on her the Franciscan Spirit Award, which is the highest honor given to a faculty member.
On May 4 in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood, Father William Sweeney, pastor at Saint Francis de Sales and for many years Chaplain at Saint Francis Prep, presided at her funeral Mass which was celebrated with family, friends, Sisters of Saint Joseph, Franciscan Brothers, St. Francis Prep faculty and students — past and present, and parishioners of Our Lady of Victory.
