Sister Norbert McNamee, OP, of Dominican Convent, Sparkill, New York, died on June 2, 2011 in Good Samaritan Hospital Suffern, NY. Born in New York City, NY on July 8, 1929, Florence was the daughter of Thomas and Catherine McCormack McNamee. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1948 and became known as Sister Mary Norbert, professing her first vows in 1950 and her final vows in 1955.
Sister earned a BS in Education from Fordham University, NY and an MS in Education from Long Island University, NY. During her professional life, Sister Norbert was a teacher in the Archdiocese of NY and in the diocese of Syracuse serving at St. John Chrysostom, Bronx, NY (1950-55); Our Lady of
Grace, Bronx, NY (1955-58); St. Paul, Norwich, NY (1958-66); St. Paul, Valley Cottage, NY (1966-69); Sacred Heart, Suffern, NY (1969-70); Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Middletown, NY (1970-73) and Sacred Heart, Monroe, NY (1973-96). In 1996 when Sister Norbert left full time teaching she continued to be of service to the parish of Sacred Heart in Monroe. She dedicated her time to assisting with the RCIA program, served as sacristan for the Church, prepared children in the school for First Holy Communion, instructed the altar servers and was a constant presence to the people of Sacred Heart for over thirty- seven years. Sister Norbert is predeceased by her sister, Sister Mercedes McNamee, OP and she is survived by her sister, Sr. Marie McNamee, OP; her aunt Josephine McCormack and numerous cousins residing in Ireland.
Sister Norbert will be remembered for her faithful commitment of sixty-two years as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill. As a teacher in the field of education and as a parish assistant, she dedicated her life to the people of God through her ministry of kindness. She was blessed with a good life and was taken home to God quite suddenly. May she now rest in the loving arms of the God she served so well.