Sister Barbara Lenniger, OP, of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, New York, died on April 2, 2016 in Dominican Convent, Sparkill, NY.
Born in the Bronx, NY on December 27, 1932, Barbara Frances was the daughter of Roland and Frances Scanlon Lenniger. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1951 and received the name Sister Barbara Ann. She professed her first vows in 1953 and her final vows in 1958.
Sister Barbara earned a BS in Education, St. John University, 1960, a MA in English/American Literature, Hunter College, 1968 and a Certificate of Administration, SUNY Albany.
Sister Barbara was a teacher and principal in elementary and secondary education. She ministered in the Archdiocese of NY and the dioceses of Syracuse, Brooklyn and Rockville Center. She taught at St. John Chrysostom, Bronx, NY (1953-54); St. Mary, Fulton, NY (1954-57); Mary Queen of Heaven, Brooklyn, NY (1957-65); Aquinas HS, Bronx, NY (1965-68); Holy Trinity HS, Hicksville, NY (1968-79); St. Augustine (Principal) New City, NY (1979-82) and St. Barnabas HS, Bronx, NY (1982-85). Sister Barbara served as Coordinator in the Ministry to the Homeless in NY from 1985-1988. In 1988 Sister Barbara’s zeal for social justice and a burning desire to provide quality housing for women and children led her to found Thorpe Family Residence and later Park Avenue Thorpe. She served as Executive Director at these agencies for almost twenty-five years. Sister Barbara’s work has been recognized numerous times over and she has certainly made a difference in the lives of so many. Sister Barbara retired in 2011.
Sister Barbara is survived by her sister Betty-Ann Campos, Scottsdale, AZ, and her brother Roland Lenniger (Diane), Scottsdale, AZ. She was the proud aunt of Carly, Shea, Amber, Danielle and Craig Lenniger. She will be missed by her cousin Sister Judith Brady, OP and her many friends.
Sister Barbara was faithful to the God she loved and to the life she chose as a Dominican Sister. We are grateful for her sixty-five years in the congregation and 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.