Sister Mary Amalia Menardi, 99, died on June 13, 2017, at Lourdes Health Care Center in Wilton, Connecticut. She had been a vowed member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, celebrating her 75th jubilee this year.
Ruth Marie Menardi was born on March 22, 1918, in Bogota, New Jersey, and was baptized on April 7, 1918, at St. Joseph Church. Her parents were Joseph Menardi and Florence Kedney Menardi, both from New York. Her sister, Florence, was born the following year and, two years later, her brother Joey arrived. Florence was Ruth’s constant companion. She became very ill and died at the age of six. The day she was buried, Joey died from a fall. It was a very difficult time for her parents and Ruth missed her siblings terribly. Her brother Billy was a baby at this time.
Ruth Marie began first grade in a public school. A Catholic school opened the next year and she studied at St. Joseph School from the second to fourth grades. In the fifth grade she entered Holy Angels Academy in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where she boarded for two years. Ruth Marie then continued her studies commuting until she graduated from high school in June 1936. Following graduation, Ruth Marie traveled into New York City where she worked at the London-Guarantee Insurance Company for three years. She enjoyed going to the city and loved her job. Looking back on these years, Ruth Marie recalled that she was very chatty and friendly to everyone in the office.
While at Holy Angels Academy, Ruth Marie had a desire to become a Sister. On August 29, 1939, she traveled to Baltimore, and entered the Candidature. After two years of study, Ruth Anne entered the Novitiate on July 26, 1941, and received the name Mary Amalia. She was professed on July 30, 1942.
Sister Amalia’s first assignment was to St. Paul the Apostle School in Ellicott City, Maryland, where she taught the first through the third grades for eight years (1942-1950). Segregation still existed in the South and a one-room schoolhouse nearby was designated for black children. The sister who taught in this school became sick and was not able to continue teaching. Sister Amalia asked to be assigned there and taught the first through the eighth grades in the same room. She loved the children and remembered her two years at St. Augustine as the highlight of her teaching career.
From 1952, Sister Amalia taught at the following schools: St Peter, Philadelphia, (1952-1954); St. John Nepomucene, Bridgeport, Conn. (1954-1961); Holy Rosary, Administrator, Bridgeport, Conn. (1961-1967); St. John the Evangelist, Leonia, N.J.
(1967-1968); Our Lady of Peace, administrator, Stratford, Conn. (1968-1971); St. Thomas, administrator, Thomaston, Conn. (1971-1973). Sister Amelia had the difficult assignment of closing both Our Lady of Peace and St. Thomas Schools.
During these years, Sister Amalia received the following degrees: Bachelor of Science, 1950, Notre Dame of Maryland University; Master of Arts,1965; Fairfield, University; Master of Arts,1975, Religious Education, Fairfield University. She was a competent and insightful teacher and administrator and encouraged new ideas which created interest and joy for many teachers.
In 1973, Sister Amalia became the coordinator of religious education at St. Matthew Parish in Norwalk. She loved being part of the parish and found it easy to meet new people. While living at Villa Notre Dame, she commuted to Norwalk for 21 years. Following a year’s sabbatical, 1994-1995, Sister Amalia continued to live at Villa Notre Dame where she was engaged in congregational services. She enjoyed this ministry as she was able to meet a variety of dedicated people of all ages willing to help out in whatever way was needed. Sister retired in 2007 and, because of failing health, moved to Lourdes Health Care Center in 2014. Recently, while updating her life story, she wrote of her efforts "to try every day to continue to be the happy person I have been throughout my life."
Sister’s health declined slowly. She was a prayerful person and members of her family, friends, and sisters prayed with her. They, along with staff, kept watch. Quietly, Amalia slipped away during the early morning of June 13.
Sister Amalia was predeceased by her brother William, and is mourned by her sister-in-law, nieces and nephews, cousins, many friends, and by her Community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
A wake service was held on the evening of Sunday, June 18, 2017, in the Chapel of Villa Notre Dame. Beautiful memories of Amalia were recalled by sisters, relatives and friends. The words unique, lovable, prayerful, persistent, caring, kindness to children, friends, and visitors were often repeated.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, June 19, 2017, by Rev. Walter Orlowski assisted by Msgr. Andrew Varga, Rev. Paul Sankar, and Rev. Larry Larsen. Burial was at St. Mary Cemetery, Bethel, Conn.
- Julianna Poole, SSND
