Sister received her elementary education at St. Mary’s School, Poughkeepsie, NY and her high school diploma from Mt. St. Mary Academy, Newburgh, NY. She went on to major in Elementary Education and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University in 1960.

Sister Jean Miriam entered the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh on September 6, 1929. She made her final profession on August 20, 1937. Sister remembered her 73 years of religious life as beginning first in the kitchen at the Mount and also attending to the Kinder- garten boarders of the Academy. For the next 12 years her ministry consisted of congregational services. During that time she described herself as not even knowing “how to boil water.” She recalled how, at the beginning, her superior told her “they would have an easy dinner - Chicken Fricases.”

Sister Jean Miriam began her teaching career at St. Mary’s, Gloucester in 1943 (where, by the way she taught me in the 3rd and 4th grades). From there she went on to teach in Pleasantville, St. Patrick’s in Newburgh, Camden and Paterson. She ended her teaching ministry back at St. Mary’s, Gloucester where she remained until 1980. Sister was semi-retired for 8 yrs. at St. Mary’s School, Deal, NJ and then went on to full retirement in the Nazareth community until becoming a member of the infirmary in 1993. To quote Sister: “It is here that we find a large group of fine sisters united under the same cause - to do the will of God in whatever capacity we are able.” She spent her days in spiritual and physical activities such as Mass, Office, Rosary, and the events of the day. She loved to play cards, do puzzle books, puzzles and chat with the sisters. She was a frequent visitor to the Physical Therapy, room where she engaged in some of these activities.

Sister was grateful for all the opportunities she had over her 73 years. She felt privileged “to have assisted in helping children to be able to read as well as bringing them to the sacraments.”

Today we bid farewell to Sister Jean Miriam and ask her to continue to intercede with “Mother Mary” for us, God bless you, Sister.

BACK