Sister Denise, I know you are watching us at this very moment.

First of all, allow me to thank you for asking me to celebrate your funeral liturgy. I am both honored and humbled. I hope my presence here makes you happy. But for the next few minutes, I'd wish that you'd find St. Dominic and talk to him because what I'm about to do next is something you didn't want--a homily--someone saying nice things about you. So plug your ears, Sister, or go find St. Dominic!!

Sixty-five years as a professed religious! What a milestone--what a life of dedication! All Sister Mary Denise ever wanted to be in life was a Religious Sister, and for 65 years she gave it her all. She invested everything she had into her vocation. She gave herself totally to her two loves: God and School.
Half of her religious life was spent in North Carolina, New Jersey and New York. The remaining 33 years were spent in her beloved parish of Our Lady of the Assumption in Fairfield, CT. How she loved her parish and school communities, and how they loved her.

Yes, into her vocation as Religious Sister and teacher she invested all of her life. She regarded her work to be of the greatest importance. She believed that if her work had meaning then it would become a blessing. Sr. Mary Denise also knew that if your ministry had no meaning, or little meaning, it would become a burden or even a curse.

The thing in life today that frightens most people is not death, but a life without meaning. The famous painter Vincent Van Gogh spent many years trying to find out what he wanted to do with his life. Finally, after much searching, he discovered that he wanted to be a painter. From that day on, his life changed. It wasn't that it suddenly became easy. The opposite would be nearer to the truth. The fact was that prior to this, his life was going nowhere, now it was going somewhere. "He said, " I am as rich as Croesus, not in money, however. I am rich because I have found in my work something to which I can devote myself heart and soul-and which gives meaning and inspiration to my life."

Well, I believe that Sister Mary Denise too was rich, because she found a way of life into which she was able to devote herself heart and soul. How she loved being a Sister! And how she loved wearing her Dominican habit! I swear she probably wore it to bed every night!

And how she loved being a teacher. She taught all of her life. At Assumption she was in the classroom 32 of her 33 years. Think of the hundreds of children she taught! Think of the hundreds of lives she influenced!

As the past several years wore away at Sister with sickness and pain, she never complained. She knew that suffering was a part of life. It was for Jesus, and it would also be for her. As Sirach told us: 'When you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing ... Cling to Him and do not depart, so that your last days may be prosperous ... Accept whatever befalls you ... Trust in Him and He will help you: make your ways straight, and hope in Him.' Sister believed in these words 100%.

Even St. Paul in our second reading was reflecting on his life as he wrote to Timothy and he describes how he is happy about his past and hopeful for his future. Could these not also be Sr. Mary Denise's words to us: "As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation. The time of my departure has come. Yes, Lord, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, and now there is a crown of righteousness reserved for me.

Yes, Sister, you have fought the good fight. You have finished the race, you have kept the faith. You have truly been an inspiration to all of us. Sister was indeed a blessed and fortunate woman. She had found a real treasure. She had found a priceless vocation in life. Even though in the eyes of many, her work as a religious and a teacher may have been difficult and unspectacular, it was a labor of love and it glowed with meaning. In spite of her difficulties and hardships, Sister never gave in to discouragement or bitterness. She for one, never equated a happy life with an easy one. Her work became her road to salvation.

Sister, thank you for the wonderful example of faithfulness you have shown us. Thank you for offering your life to be a Sponsa Christi, a Bride of Christ. For 65 years you were a faithful bride and indeed your Groom awaits you with the Crown of Righteousness that you so richly deserve. How we will all miss you!: your wonderful community of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, your convent community at Assumption, especially your buddy Sister Nancy, your parishioners and friends at Assumption Parish, your fellow teachers, current and past, as well as the hundreds of children whose lives were improved by having you as their teacher.

How rich a person you were, for you indeed found in your work something to which you devoted yourself to heart and soul, and from this your life had meaning and inspiration. Okay, Sr. Denise, you can stop talking to St. Dominic now and focus again on US. I told everyone a little about you, but not everything! The one thing people keep asking was, "How old is she?" I never told them then, and I didn't tell them now. As far as I'm concerned, you are forever young!

Please Sister, you prayed for us until this Sunday, now please continue to do so from your place in heaven. You in turn will always have a special place in our prayers and in our hearts. Be at peace dear friend!

Rev. Msgr. Blase M. Gintoli, Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Fairfield, Connecticut
January 31, 2002

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