Sister Cecilia McCarthy, OP, of the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, New York, died on May 19, 2016 in Siena Hall, Sparkill, NY.
Born in New York, NY on July 23, 1918, Kathleen was the daughter of John and Mary Stephens McCarthy. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on February 2, 1940 and received the name Sister M. Cecilia. She professed her first vows in 1941 and her final vows in 1946.
Sister Cecilia earned a BA in English, Manhattan College,1950, a BLS in Library Science, St. John University,1952 and an Administrative Certificate, Fordham University, 1976.
Sister Cecilia was a teacher in elementary and secondary education. She ministered in the Archdiocese of NY and the diocese of Brooklyn. She taught at St. Theresa, Woodside, NY (1941-45); St. Joseph, Bronx, NY (1945-47); Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Richmond Hill, NY (1947-52); Cathedral HS Annex, Bronx, NY (1952-58) and Albertus Magnus HS, Bardonia, NY (1958-60). From 1967-2001 Sister Cecilia was the principal of St. Martin of Tours in the Bronx. Upon her retirement as principal she volunteered in the school library for five years. In 1960 Sr. Cecilia was asked to serve as Novice Mistress for the congregation and she served in this capacity until 1967.
Sister became a resident of Dominican Convent in 2006.
Sister Cecilia is predeceased by her parents, her sisters Mary (James) Conlon, Eileen (Thomas) Kavanagh, Theresa (Patrick) Hughes and her brother John (Madelyn) McCarthy. She is survived by her nieces and nephews Shelagh (Gerard, dec.) O’Brien, Thomas (Sheila) Kavanagh, John (Janet) Kavanagh, Eileen (Peter, dec.) Hires, Patricia (Rick) Hugus, Patrick Hughes and Patti Pieper, Robert (Jennifer) Hughes, Edward (Colleen) Hughes, Arthur (Rose) Hughes, Timothy (Cathleen) Hughes, William (Armanda) Hughes, Jane (William) Muller, Kathleen Keane (dec.), Maureen (John) Demarco, Terri (Dean) Hastings, Susan Walden and James Conlon. She will be missed by many grandnieces and grandnephews.
We will remember Sister Cecilia for her wisdom, integrity and strength. We thank her for the difference she made in the lives of so many. She had a great love for the congregation and was faithful to the God she loved and to the life she chose as a Dominican Sister. We are grateful for her seventy-six years in the congregation and we thank God for her life and her goodness. May the Lord shine His light upon her and give her eternal rest in the kingdom of heaven.