Sister Aline St. Denis, OP was born on July 19, 1917 in Plattsburgh, New York. She was the fourth child but the first daughter of a very happy, religious family of four boys and four girls. She loved school and the winter activities of ice-skating, sleigh-riding, and tobogganing. While in high school she became involved with the Dominican Sisters’ charitable works in the Treadwells Mills area spreading the Word of God.

Aline entered the Dominican Sisters in Fall River, Massachusetts in August of 1936. She studied at St. Michael College in Vermont, Providence College and Catholic University. Her teaching, principalship and guidance ministries brought her to Fall River and Acushnet in Massachusetts, Plattsburgh and Chateaugay in New York, and New Haven, Connecticut.

Sister loved her eighth grade boys at St. Anne School. They towered over her short physique but she controlled them well with her genuine caring and in return she earned their love and respect. When she taught the high school girls at Dominican Academy we would playfully stand on our toes and say “Hello down there.” She would slowly and deliberately raise her head, and with a twinkle in her eye would respond, “I love to look up to people in more than one way!”

In 1968 Sister Aline moved to Washington, DC where she was supervisor for the Department of Human Resources/Social Rehabilitation Administration and Education Coordinator for the Vocation Rehabilitation Services. She volunteered her services to the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center, Pax Christi and the District of Columbia. On a regular basis she would call congregation members from Washington, DC and talk about “her” bag ladies and how she would spend nights with them. She would refer to Father John Dear, a well known social justice advocate, as such a “dear” who would celebrate liturgy in her apartment.

On her way to work she would eagerly greet congressmen by name. She was equally comfortable in homeless shelters and gave encouragement and moral support not only to the homeless but also to the other volunteers and employees. For 26 years Sister lobbied for social justice and actually served the poor, the homeless, AIDS victims, and the underprivileged.

This ministry in Washington, DC was, without a doubt, her pride and joy. She loved her work, her employees, her counselees, and especially her “big, black boys” whom she trusted completely would ‘straighten out.’ She “loved them up” as she would say.

A true Dominican, Sister Aline loved to study and loved to travel. In conjunction with her work, she toured 18 countries in Europe. In 1983 she was a delegate to the International Rehabilitation Symposium in Russia. She received the Sisterhood Award from the DC Department of Human Services as well as the award for Outstanding Service to Individuals with Disabilities. After receiving five consecutive Outstanding Performance Ratings and being named to the National Distinguished Service Registry, she received recognition and a gift from his Eminence, Cardinal Hickey, in gratitude for her many years of ministry in the Archdiocese. In her spare time she enjoyed reading, visiting museums and attending classical music concerts.

Aline had great affection for her family. She always spoke lovingly of siblings, nieces, nephews and friends. She also had great love for her Dominican congregation and for all things Dominican. During her years in Washington, DC she frequently visited the Dominican House of Studies to stay abreast of happenings and simply reconnect with her Dominican family.

Aline was loyal to the Dominican Sisters of Fall River and to the Dominican Sisters of Hope. She loved her community and participated fully in the work of the congregation making many trips from DC to attend meetings and study days.

When she officially retired in 1990 she remained in the Washington, DC area and continued to serve those in need until she returned to the Dominican Sisters of Hope in Newburgh in 1997. During the past ten years of decline and illness she was a woman of grace and longsuffering. She prayed much.

And so……we bid farewell to Aline, our sister and friend, until we meet again. A gifted woman, a great teacher, the personification of energy, a woman ahead of her time. She liked to call herself “gutsy.”

Thank you, Aline, for sharing so generously with all of us your excitement for advocacy, your zest for life, and your passion for God.

Sister Louise Levesque, OP
November 20, 2003

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