Maryknoll Sisters

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Mary Powers died on November 22^nd, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 102 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 77 years.

She was born in Fall River, Massachusetts on January 23^rd, 1917 to Irene (Moffitt) Powers and Ambrose A. Powers. She had one sister, Eustelle and one brother, Ambrose; both have pre-deceased her.

From 1931-1934, Mary attended B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River, MA. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate located in Maryknoll, New York on September 7^th, 1942.  At her Reception she received the religious name, Sister Mary Ambrose Irene. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1945 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on March 7^th, 1948, also at the Sisters Center.

In 1944, Sister Mary began her studies at Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Sisters Center) and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1948. After graduating, she received her first teaching position at St. Anthony’s School in the Bronx, N.Y, where she taught 7^th grade.

In 1949, she was assigned to Hawaii to teach Grades 7 and 8 in Kalihi – Kai, Punahou and Wailuku until 1967. From 1968-1970, Sister Mary served as Principal of St. Anthony’s Elementary School and Coordinator of the St. Anthony Convent in Kalihi-Kai. In 1971, she was appointed Principal at St. John the Baptist School in Honolulu, where she served for 5 years before returning to the Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.  She remained at the Sisters Center for Congregational Service from 1976-1981; during these years she worked in the Treasury Department and served as Supervisor of Direct Mail in the Development Department.

In 1982, she returned to Hawaii once again to serve as Regional Planning Coordinator and Guidance Counselor at Maryknoll High School in Honolulu until 1984. Sister Mary then became involved in community service and served as Project Director of RESPECT (an Interfaith Volunteer Program serving the elderly) until 1996.

She retired in Honolulu in 1997, but remained an active volunteer in the community. In 2009, Sister Mary returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Mary on Tuesday, November 26 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

A funeral Mass will follow on Wednesday, November 27, at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center.

Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Joan Marie Peltier, M.M. died on November 10^th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.  She had just celebrated her 100^th birthday and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 82 years!

Joan was born in Milwaukee, WI on November 6^th, 1919 to Marie (Hentgen) Peltier and Clarence Peltier. She was the eldest of ten children and is survived by a few of her siblings: Mary Ann, Geraldine, Thomas and John.

From 1934-1937, Joan attended Our Lady of Mercy High School in Milwaukee, WI.  After graduating, she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY on June 10^th, 1937 (from Immaculate Conception Parish in the Diocese of Milwaukee).  At her Reception into the Congregation she received the religious name, Sister Mary Kateri. Later after Vatican Council II, she returned to her baptismal name. She made her First Profession of Vows on January 6^th, 1940 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY; and then her Final Vows also at the Sisters Center on January 6^th, 1943.

In 1939, Sister Joan began her studies at Maryknoll Teachers College, which was located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. In 1943, she earned a Bachelor of Education Degree.

That same year, she was assigned to Riberalta, Bolivia to do pastoral and catechetical work, while studying the Spanish language. Sister Joan was one of the first two Sisters assigned to Bolivia, this was a new mission for Maryknoll at that time.

In 1946, she moved to Cobija, Bolivia where she served as a religion teacher at one of the newly built local schools. She remained in Bolivia, but transferred to Guayaramarin in 1952, where she was appointed as Regional Superior of the Bolivia-Peru Region until 1966.

In 1967, Sister Joan was temporarily assigned back to the U.S. to teach 8^th grade in San Juan Capistrano, CA, before returning to South America in May of that same year. This time she was assigned to Lima and Arequipa, Peru, doing catechetical work in the public schools and helping establish daycare centers for the children of field workers. She remained in Peru until 1971.

In 1972, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, NY to serve as the Food Service Liaison in the Kitchen and volunteered in the Congregational Research Department until 1975.

From 1975-1985, Sister Joan transferred to Breckenridge, TX to do pastoral work and serve as Assistant Pastor in five rural towns. Her duties included conducting liturgical ceremonies, preaching, religious education with adults and children, and working with churches of other denominations.

She then relocated to St. Louis, MO to work with the physically challenged until 1990. Her next assignment was in Chicago, IL to perform regional clerical services until 1993.

For the last time, Sister Joan returned to Bolivia in 1994. She spent six years assisting with regional administration duties at the Maryknoll Sisters house there.

In 1997, she returned to the U.S., staying at the Maryknoll House in West Haven, CT and then the Sisters house in Yonkers, NY. She was an active volunteer involved in local ministries, including the Maryknoll Affiliates Subway Chapter in NYC.  In 2009, at the age of 90, Sister Joan retired.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Joan Peltier on Thursday November 14^th, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. 

A Mass of Resurrection will follow on Friday, November 15^th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. 

 Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Camille Marie Black, M.M. died on October 29^th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 96 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 74 years.

She was born in Andover, NY on September 27^th, 1923 to Mildred (Hower) Black and Paul Black. She had one brother, Paul and one sister, Virginia; both of whom have predeceased her.

Camille Marie attended Dansville Central High School in Dansville, NY from 1935-1939. After graduating, she studied at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Elmira, NY from 1942-1945, where she earned an RN License.

On September 6^th, 1945, she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY (from St. Patrick’s Parish, Danville, NY, in the Rochester Diocese). At her Reception she received the religious name, Sister Camille Marie. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1948 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows in Manila, Philippines on March 7^th, 1951.

In 1948, Sister Camille Marie received her first overseas mission assignment to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Manapla, Philippines where she served as a Nursing Supervisor.  In 1955, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to serve as a nurse in the center’s nursing home wing until 1959. She was then assigned to Guatemala to serve as a nurse and religion teacher in Colegio Monte Maria, Guatemala City from 1959-1963.

Sr. Camille Marie remained in Guatemala, but relocated to San Pedro Necta to serve again as a nurse and religion teacher for six months; she was then called to Jacaltenango to help set up an operating room and train the nursing staff from 1963-1966.  In 1967, she returned to the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Manapla, Philippines to serve as a staff nurse for one year.

Sister Camille Marie then decided to further her studies at the Maryknoll Colleges located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She first attended Mary Rogers College from 1968-1972, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Later, she went on to earn a Master’s of Arts Degree in Religious Studies at the Maryknoll School of Theology in 1980.  While attending school she worked in various positions at the Congregation such as, Assistant Director, Librarian and Assistant Editor of Maryknoll Society’s Overseas Extension Service Program from 1972-1984.

Sister Camille Marie remained at the Maryknoll Sisters Center for many years, serving as a volunteer in various departments such as: the Maryknoll Sisters Photo Archive Department, the Development Department, and the Mission Awareness Promotion Team until 2001. She retired in 2006, but remained active serving in the Sacristy and in the New York Archdiocese Catechetical Program.

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Camille Marie on Tuesday, November 5^th, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.  

A Funeral Mass will follow on Wednesday, November 6^th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. 

Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.