In Memoriam

Sr Doreen Lackenbauer

In Memoriam - Sister Doreen (Mary Howard) Lackenbauer

Sister Doreen was appointed as housemistress for more than 30 junior boarders at Lingfield Convent School, England. The girls, age 7 – 12 years, received motherly care from Sister Doreen, who attended to all their needs outside of school hours. On the weekends she prepared meals with the girls.
Sister Mary Aveline Smith

In Memoriam - Sister Mary Aveline Smith

Blessed with a long life of service to others, Sr Aveline was very creative and crocheted avidly, every year gifting each Jubilarian with a lovely lap robe.  On May 11, 2021, at Ozanam in Queens, NY, she celebrated her 100th birthday with her community there. Though suffering from poor health and often in pain, Aveline enjoyed her special day very much, as it brought joy to the whole community. 

In Memoriam - Sister Lori Keen

Through her many years of teaching, Sr Lori learned that those who are poor “are the rich ones, for they have hearts of gold and showed me how to love, to share, and to serve." S. Lori said "The BEST times of my life were the times I could make others happy or when others helped me to be happy."

In Memoriam - Sister Rita White

Sister Rita’s compassion, sensitivity and thoughtfulness were her endearing qualities. She focussed her attention on others, not on herself. A former colleague recalls that when Rita was in Lima. Peru, she would leave the house in the morning, walking to her destination and spending time greeting the neighbors and children with a gift, word of hope, or consolation. Her life was lived happily, in service to others.

In Memoriam - Jude Marie Sweeney

For three years she was at Graymoore, New York, working in addiction rehabilitation at New Hope Manor. She continued her studies in Criminal Justice at John Jay College, New York. In 1980 she acquired a Certificate of Studies in Canadian Law from York University, Osgoode Hall Law School.

In Memoriam - Sister George Marie Geiger

Sister George Marie was an excellent teacher who made events come alive for her students.  Always interested in what others were doing, she was caring and helpful, a good listener and advisor. For many years, Sister was devoted to assisting children with reading difficulties through the Baltimore Archdiocesan Remedial Reading Clinic.

In Memoriam - Sister Bernice Volk

Sister Bernice did not consider herself “elderly,” even though she was 101. She insisted on using the stairs from first to fourth floor rather than using the elevator. Her limited vision and difficulty hearing did not deter her from walking the halls and chatting with those she met.

In Memoriam - Sister Genevieve Marie Kelleher

Anonymous donors gifted the Academy of the Holy Angels with a million dollars to renovate the former convent in 2016, with the request that it be named the Sister Genevieve Marie Kelleher Hall in honor of her long service to the Academy. When Genevieve heard this surprising news, she said, “What a humbling honor!”
Sr Theresa Torsone

In Memoriam - Sister Theresa Torsone

A wonderful Sister and community member, Theresa also spent 36 years at St. Matthias in Ridgewood, Queens, New York. There she was an excellent teacher and member of the school staff, but by all accounts, she was “a master math teacher.”  A colleague said, “She could teach math to anyone.” In a life booklet created with her family, Theresa had written, “All I ever wanted was to be a good Sister and a good teacher.” And she was.
Sister Grace M. Messarge

In Memoriam - Sister Grace M. Messarge

Sister Grace taught for several years in primary/elementary classes, then became a teacher of French. She was also an administrator at Archbishop Keough and St. Maria Goretti High Schools in Maryland and at Madonna Academy, which later became Chaminade-Madonna High School, in Hollywood, Florida. Grace also spent six years as an ESL teacher at the Instituto Notre Dame in Honduras.
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