Sister Dorothy Burns, OP, of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, NY, died on October 31, 2011 in New York University Hospital in Manhattan, NY. Born in New York City on April 30, 1926, Dorothy was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Cullen Burns. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1945, and became known as Sister Elizabeth James. She professed her first vows in 1947 and her final vows in 1952.
Sister Dorothy earned a B.S. in Education from Fordham University, NY and MA in History from Manhattan College, NY. Throughout her professional life, Sister Dorothy ministered in the Archdiocese of New York. She taught in the Bronx at St. John Chrysostom, (1947-56); St. Ann (1956-65); and Aquinas HS (1965-72). From 1972-73 Sister Dorothy worked at Project Find in NY, was director of seniors at Immaculate Conception Parish in NY from 1973-74 and worked for Catholic Charities in the Office for Disabled Persons from 1974-87. For sixteen years she worked at Encore 49 as a Case Manager and then as Director of the Shop and Escort Services. For many summers sister was Director at Camp Carroll, a program for disabled children and adults. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister at Hospital for Special Surgery and New York Presbyterian Hospital right up until her untimely death this past Monday.
We will remember Sister Dorothy for her warm and loving heart, her spirit of generosity and her willingness to be of service to people wherever and whenever she could. We thank her for her sixty-six years as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill and we ask the good Lord to give her a place in
the kingdom of the saints. May she now rest in peace of the Lord.