Sr. Josephine (Alphonsus) Rooney, RSHM, died on February 23, 2020, at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY. 🙏❤️
Sister Josephine Rooney RSHM, previously known as Sister Alphonsus, died at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY, Sunday, February 23, 2020. She was 97 years of age and had been a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 76 years.
She was born Josephine Amelia in Co. Down, Ireland, on May 24, 1922, to James and Mary Burns Rooney.
She entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Ferrybank, Co. Waterford, Ireland on October 2, 1941, where she made her first vows on January 11, 1944. She made her final vows at Marymount in Tarrytown, NY on February 9, 1949.
She received a BA in English from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY, and studied for a year in Mexico.
After making her first vows, Sister Josephine remained in Ireland for two years, before being assigned to teach at Marymount School of New York (1946-1950). She taught at Sacred Heart of Mary Academy, Bronx, NY for one year. She taught in RSHM schools in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro 1950-1961) and in Colombia (Bogota 1961-1962 and Medellin 1962-1964). She taught at Academy of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Sag Harbor, NY (1964-1968) and once more at Marymount School of New York (1968-1975).
In 1975, Sr. Josephine began what was to become a 39-year of ministering in parishes. She ministered at St. Anthony’s Center, Bronx, NY (1975-1979), at Good Shepherd Parish, Ferguson, MO (1979-1980), and St. Augustine’s Parish, Larchmont, NY (1980-1986). She ministered at St. Anne’s Parish, Flushing, NY, first as a member of the parish staff and then as a volunteer working with the senior members of the parish (1987-2013).
In 2013, Sr, Josephine joined the community at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY, where she was living at the time of her death.
She is survived by relatives in Ireland and by the members of her RSHM community.
Services
Services at Marymount Convent, 32 Warren Avenue, Tarrytown, NY.
- Wake Friday, February 28, 2020, 4:00 – 7:30 pm, Vigil Service 7:30 pm.
- Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, February 29, 2020, 10:00 am. Burial Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in her name may be made to Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, NY, 10591.