Maryknoll Sisters

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Joan Toomey died on September 18^th, 2018 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, New York. She was 84 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 66 years. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 18^th, 1934 to Hazel (Warner) Toomey and Joseph J. Toomey.  She had one sister, Elaine.  Both parents and her sister have predeceased her.

In 1952, Joan graduated from Dominican High School in New Orleans. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center on September 2^nd, 1952 from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in New Orleans.  At her reception, she received the religious name, Sister Lourdes Marie. She made her First Profession of Vows on September 8^th, 1955 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center and her Final Vows on September 8^th, 1961 at the Maryknoll Convent in Los Angeles, California.

Sister Joan stayed in New York for a few years after making her First Profession of Vows to work at the Maryknoll Seminary kitchen and study at Maryknoll Teacher College from 1956 -1960; there she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She was then assigned to teach at Maryknoll School for the Japanese in Los Angeles from 1960-1962.

In 1962, Sister Joan was assigned to Hawaii where she taught seventh and eighth graders math and science at the Maryknoll School in Honolulu’s Punahou district until 1969. That same year, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center and worked in data processing; while studying at Pace University for a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, which she received in 1973.  From 1974-1981, she served as Manager of Computer Services and then as Director of the Development Department from 1981-1985, both at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. A woman of many talents, she also served as the Liturgy-Music Coordinator at the Maryknoll Sisters Center from 1974-1986.

In 1986, Sister Joan was assigned to the Hong Kong/Macau Region where she studied language and culture. She then became a full time Lecturer in Computer Studies from 1989-1991 at Hong Kong’s Lingnan College.  Also, from 1989-1995 she was elected Coordinator of the Maryknoll Sisters Regional Service Team and served as an active Board Member of the Maryknoll Convent School’s Educational Trust until 2002.

In 2003, Sister Joan returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center to work part time as a volunteer in the Treasury/Special Projects Office until 2014 when she retired.

A Vespers Service for Sister Joan will be held at the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 4:15 P.M.

 Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated in the same chapel on Friday, September 21 at 11:00 A.M. Interment will follow at the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery.

Sister Rosemary Garrity died on September 9^th, 2018 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, in Maryknoll, NY. She was 94 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 71 years.

She was born in Waterbury, CT on January 10^th, 1924 to Margaret (Nash) Garrity and Frank Garrity. She has one sister, Rita, Mrs. Charles Mallon. She had four brothers:  Rev. Thomas Garrity-a Maryknoll Father, Dr. Joseph Garrity, John Garrity and William Garrity. All of her brothers have predeceased her.

In 1941, Rosemary graduated from Waterbury Catholic High School; after graduation she worked for the American Brass Company in Waterbury, CT.   She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY on October 5^th, 1946; from Immaculate Conception Parish in Hartford, CT.  At her Reception she received the religious name Sister Mary Thomas.  She made her First Profession of Vows on April 6^th, 1949 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center and her Final Profession of Vows on April 6^th, 1952 in Yucatan, Mexico.

From 1949-1951, Sister Rosemary worked at the Field Afar Magazine, (now known as Maryknoll Magazine).  In 1951, she was assigned to Mérida, Mexico where she spent the next 17 years teaching English, typing and shorthand to girls preparing for higher education in commercial subjects. In 1968, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, to study at Mary Rogers College. There, she earned an Associate’s Degree in 1970 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Organization in 1972.  In 1973, she went to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and earned a Master’s Degree in Social Service in 1974.   She then returned to Mexico to work in pastoral ministry and social work among the impoverished people of Mexico City until 1982.

In 1982, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center to work in the Congregation’s Development Department’s Promotion Office until 1985. She was then assigned to Colonia Mezquital, Guatemala where she worked with basic Christian communities and taught literacy to impoverished women until 1993. She was assigned to Mexico again in 1994 to do pastoral ministry and social work in Oaxaca. In 2001, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center where she did pastoral care among the elderly Maryknoll Sisters until 2010 when she retired.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Rosemary in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 4:15 P.M.   A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 11:00 A.M in the same chapel.

Sister Rosemary has generously requested that her body be donated to Science.