Dorothy Jane Sinibaldi was the third child of Annible and Dora DeRose Sinibaldi, joining her brother Francis and her sister Gloria on March 30, 1933.  She was born at home in Beacon, New York. She has five nieces and one nephew. Two of her nieces, Christine and Maria, are here with us today and Jeannie and Danny are with us through livestream.

For Dorothy’s 70th jubilee, Sister Joyce Wagner helped Dorothy write her memories.  Some reflections are in Dorothy’s own words, others are Joyce’s and my additions.

“In grade school, I was taught by the Mercy Sisters at St. John’s School in Beacon, New York. I loved them and often walked them home after school. I wanted to know more about them and what made them click!

“I’ve always had a love for music. When I was three years old, I began tap dancing lessons, and when I was in second grade, I began piano lessons. In the years that followed, I kept up my love for music and eventually I was asked to help as a substitute playing the organ at Mass in church.

“When I was in sixth grade, the Mercy Sister left the parish and school, opening the doors for the School Sisters of St. Francis. Sister Clarissa Klaas became my teacher, and it was this contact with Clarissa that eventually helped me in choosing to enter the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee.

“After my years of formation, when I received my first appointment, Mother told me I would go to St. Monica’s as a teacher. I thought she meant St. Monica’s in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. When I asked if that is what she meant, Mother said, no, St. Monica’s in New York City. What a joy that was for me and for my family!

“As a School Sister of St. Francis, I appreciated attending daily Mass. I’ve always been faithful to my prayer life, and it is an important part of my relationships with God, friends, and family to this day.

“Another life- giving opportunity as a School Sister of St. Francis, I was able to use my talents in my various ministries. Among my ministries were listening, teaching, mentoring, and coordinating high school religious education classes; pastoral work in the hospital and in homes; and re-organizing the Rosary Society in my home parish.”

As a teacher, Sister Dorothy was known to be firm but fair, compassionate and fun. She planned her lessons in such a way that the students found learning fun, but always purposeful. Sister Dorothy was a motivator, and often challenged her students to do fundraisers for children less fortunate than they. A number of the fundraisers raised thousands of dollars over the years and benefited several of the congregation’s ministries. A beautiful reflection of Dorothy is the over 100 comments on the Facebook announcement of Dorothy’s death. These were made by former students, parents, colleagues, and friends.

To use a cliché, Dorothy was a “people person.” This explains how she maintained friendships from her college days, her nearly 40 years at St. Peter Parish in Rosendale, New York, and the many sisters with whom she lived on mission over the years. Dorothy was a trusted friend, always there to lend a listening ear or lend a hand. If certificates were given out for sending birthday, sympathy, “get well,” or any kind of cards, she would get the award hands down.

In her retirement years Sister Dorothy would often volunteer to sew on name labels for sisters moving into central houses, or take them off when needed; accompany sisters to doctor’s appointments; or help out wherever needed. For recreation, Dorothy loved gardening. She was elated at the sight of the first tomato or green bean. She also loved trying new recipes for main meals, cookies, or cakes, and inviting friends to enjoy them with her. Dorothy was also a lover of the game Scrabble, being a superb speller herself, and would question her competitors if the word was misspelled!

To sum up Sister Dorothy’s years as a School Sister of St. Francis, she lived life to the fullest, celebrating her blessings and many friendships over these past 91 years. Another expression fits her well: “You can take a sister out of New York, but you cannot take New York out of Sister Dorothy.” And who would even want to?

This was entered in Dorothy’s meditation journal the week before she died:

A Prayer for the New Year

May God make your year a holy one. Not by shielding you from sorrows and pain, but by strengthening you to bear it as it comes.

Not by making paths easy, but by making you sturdy enough to travel any path.

Not by taking fear from your heart, but by granting you unbroken sunshine to brighten your face.

Not by making your life always pleasant, but by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be their helper.

God’s love, peace, hope, and joy to you for the year ahead.

(Author unknown)

Go now in peace, Sister Dorothy. You have been unfailingly faithful.