Maryknoll Sisters

Sister Barbara Ann Walenty died on October 24^th, 2018 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.  She was 90 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 61 years.

Barbara Ann was born in Detroit, MI on May 26^th, 1928 to Anna (Starr) Walenty and Anthony Walenty and was baptized in St. Ladislaus Parish in Hamtramck, MI.  She had four brothers John, Patrick, Tom, Donald and two sisters Gloria and Colleen.  Barbara Ann graduated from Mackenzie High School in Detroit, MI in 1946. She then attended Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Detroit, MI, where she earned an R.N. Degree. She then worked as a nurse at Detroit Memorial Hospital for two years and at Highland Park Hospital for three years.

Barbara Ann entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Valley Park, MO on December 30^th, 1956 from St. Brigid’s Parish in Detroit, MI.  At her Reception she received the religious name Sister Rose Barbara. She made her First Profession of Vows on August 22^nd, 1959 in Valley Park, MO, and her Final Profession of Vows on August 22^nd, 1965 in Hong Kong.

After her First Profession of Vows, Sister Barbara was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. There she worked as Guest Mistress and in the laundry room until her assignment to Kansas City, Queen of the World Hospital where she worked as Operating Room Supervisor until 1963.  That same year, she received her first overseas assignment to Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. There she studied Cantonese and served at Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital as Operating Room Supervisor until 1970.  From 1970-1972, Sister Barbara continued to serve at the hospital as: Clinical Instructor, Supervisor of the Student Nurse Hostel, and established the Student Nursing Program. In 1973, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in NY and worked in the Supportive Services Department before joining the Maryknoll Sisters Eastern United States Region in 1974. She was first assigned to Boston, Chinatown where she taught English as a Second Language and worked at the Chinatown Clinic and Tufts Medical Center from 1974 – 1975.

From 1976 – 1978, she lived in Transfiguration Parish in New York Chinatown, and worked in Cabrini Hospital Nursing Home, and at the Maryknoll Center Health Services. In 1979, she was assigned to St Theresa School in Chicago, Chinatown, where she served as School Nurse, Teachers Aid and taught “Alcohol & Drug Education” (ADE) until 1986. That same year she returned to Hamtramck, MI to care for her elderly parents.

From 1995-1997, Sister Barbara worked in the Maryknoll Sisters Development Departments Mid-West Education/Promotion Office. In 1999, she returned to Chicago, IL to retire, but continued to volunteer as a part-time CCD Teacher and Art Teacher with children at St. Theresa’s School. In 2008, she moved to Fraser, MI and continued to volunteer doing family ministry and pastoral work.  In 2014, Sister Barbara returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, where she remained until her death.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Barbara Ann on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Resurrection will follow on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Maryknoll Sisters Chapel.

Sister Maria Rosario Daley died on October 18^th, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was 95 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 73 years.

She was born in Albany, New York on February 1^st, 1923 to Margaret (Harpinger) Daley and John H. Daley; she was baptized as Regina Anne. She had three sisters, Veronica, Rose and Joan and one brother, Rev. James D. Daley. Her parents and sister Joan have predeceased her.

In 1941, Regina graduated from Holy Names Academy in Albany, New York.  She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, New York from St. Thomas Parish in Delmar, New York (Albany Diocese) on September 6^th, 1945.   At her Reception, she received the religious name Sister Maria Rosario. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1948 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, New York and her Final Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1951 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

From 1941-1945, Sister Maria Rosario studied at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Latin and Mathematics.  In 1967, she earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Boston College and in 1974 she earned her second Master’s degree in Theology at the Maryknoll Seminary, in Maryknoll, New York.  Sister Maria Rosario then studied computer science in 1977 at Pace University in Westchester County, New York.

In 1948, Sister Maria Rosario was assigned to the Hawaii Islands, for the next 17 years she taught in the Maryknoll high school in Punahou on Oahu, at St. Ann’s High School in Kaneihe also on Oahu and at St. Anthony’s School in Wailuku on Maui.  In 1967, she returned to Maryknoll, New York to serve as a member of the faculty at Mary Rogers College where she taught Mathematics and worked in the Admissions Office until 1973.  She was then assigned to the Treasury Department at the Maryknoll Sisters Center to serve as Coordinator of Lay Employee Personnel and the Office of Immigration from 1974-1985.

In 1985, Sister Maria Rosario returned to Hawaii, where she served as Diocesan Computer Consultant, taught a Scripture course and worked with Eucharistic Ministers at Sacred Heart Parish in Punahou until 1989.  In the years that followed, she remained in Hawaii and worked at Maryknoll High School, was Lay Personnel Director and Computer Consultant for the Diocese of Honolulu.

From 1997-2003, Sister Maria Rosario continued to do part time clerical work in the Maryknoll High School Guidance Office and served as sexton, sacristan and Eucharistic Minister for the Manoa-Punahou Catholic Community. She retired in 2014, but remained an active volunteer.

A Viewing at 9:00 a.m. and Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00 a.m. will be held for Sister Maria Rosario on November 12 at Sacred Heart Parish, Punahou, Honolulu followed by interment at Diamond Head Cemetery.