Obituaries

Obituaries, Week of Nov. 27, 2021

Sister Virginia Mary Crowley, CSJ, (Sister Emiliana), a Sister of St. Joseph in her 76th year of religious life, entered eternal rest on Oct. 28, at the age of 95.

Sister Virginia Mary Crowley, CSJ

She attended St. Catherine of Alexandria Elementary School and St. Brendan Diocesan High School in Brooklyn. Sister Virginia’s elementary school ministry includes St. Pascal Baylon School, Queen of All Saints and Most Precious Blood in the Diocese of Brooklyn, and St. Anne’s School, Brentwood in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Her BS degree in science from St. John’s University and her MS degree in chemistry from Notre Dame University prepared her as a secondary education science teacher in St. Pascal Baylon High School, St. Brendan High School, Bishop Kearney High School, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help High School.

An MS degree in secondary administration from Hofstra University in 1972 led her to her next assignment — principal of Sacred Heart Academy (SHA), Hempstead from 1970-1987, during which time, her dream to build a theatre in the academy materialized. From 1987-2014, Sister Virginia with her creativity and deep spirituality was responsible for the many special projects initiated and continuing at Our Lady of the Hamptons School, Southampton, New York until her retirement at her final mission — Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood. Sister Virginia served on the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph College, and was included in “Who’s Who-American Women.”

A wake and a funeral Mass was offered on Nov. 3 in Maria Regina Residence. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery on the grounds.


Sister Patricia Fahey RSHM, previously known as Sister Timothy, died at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, New York, on Nov. 12.

Sister Patricia Fahey RSHM

She was 90 years of age and had been a Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 71 years.

She was born Catherine Patricia Fahey in New York City on March 7, 1931, to Patrick J. and Della Lee Fahey.

She received a BA in history from Marymount College, Tarrytown. At Colombia University, New York, she received an MS in library science and also studied Educational Administration. 

Following in the footsteps of her older sister, Sister Theresa (Sister de Padua), she entered the congregation at the RSHM Novitiate in Tarrytown, on September 8, 1948, and then received the religious name of Sister Timothy.

She made her first vows on May 6, 1950, at the Mother House of the RSHM in Béziers, France. She made her final vows in Tarrytown on August 28, 1955.

Sister Patricia was an educator who ministered in elementary schools and in parishes. Her first ministry was at Marymount School of New York, where she was a teacher (1952-1959) and principal of the Lower School (1959-1965). She was principal of St. Anne’s School, Garden City, New York (1965-1968 and 1972-1978) and principal of St. Catharine of Alexandria School, Brooklyn (1968-1969).

She worked for the Diocese of Brooklyn in the Office of Catholic Education Division of Religious Education (1979-1980). She was the Religious Education Coordinator at St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor, New York (1980-1986), and Star of the Sea, Far Rockaway (1988-1991). She ministered in the parish adult education and spirituality programs at St. Gabriel the Archangel, Hillsdale, New Jersey (1986-1988); St. Anselm, Brooklyn (1991-1996); and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Bayside (1996-1997) where she was also the librarian. 

Sister Patricia served the RSHM Eastern American Province as province executive board member and provincial councillor and served as the co-chair of the SHM Extended Family. She was also a member of the Marymount Convent community at the time of her death.

Sister Patricia is survived by her sister, Barbara Fahey Chiaramonte, and brother-in-law, John Chiaramonte, and by the members of her religious community.

A mass of Christian burial was held on Nov. 20, followed by burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains.