In Memoriam

Help us remember our Sisters.

In death, we say our ultimate human yes to God. Trusting in God’s power to bring us to the fullness of life, we conclude our earthly life with an act of worship: in the action of death we proclaim God as God, and ourselves as God’s creatures. We are called by God and sent by the community; we go in joy!

- You Are Sent, Constitution of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
Sister Mariella McMillan
Sister Mariella loved people and helping them shine, a student wrote of her "You simply made learning fun which is so important for the development of any child." At her service, Sister Lorraine Burns spoke of Mariella’s 76 years as an SSND ending with words from You Are Sent that Mariella had requested: “In death we say our ultimate human yes to our Creator. Trusting in God’s power to bring us to fullness of life, we see death as an act of worship: in dying we proclaim God, God and ourselves creatures. Although in grief, the community gratefully affirms this . . .”    
Sister Mary Henry Gadsby
In keeping with the loving spirit that Sister Henry fostered in her many years of service, Sister was nominated by the Archdiocese of Newark for the NCEA Distinguished Principal Award. Part of John Street in Secaucus was named for her on Arbor Day in 2001. And in 1998, the Jubilee medal Pro Meritus, recommended by her Pastor, was given to her by the Archdiocese of Newark, for distinguished service in school and parish.
S Ellen Fitzsimmons Photo
After a teaching and administration in numerous schools, Sister Ellen volunteered to experience the life of migrants who were working near Warwick, New York (1987). Later, she shared “The contrast between the beautiful, fertile farmlands, and the hard labor and poor dwellings of the migrant workers and their families really bothered me. It was a summer of learning and sharing.” Subsequently, Sister spent 13 years teaching ESL at Caroline House, in Bridgeport, “a ministry she loved.”