Grace Marie Petraglia, OP, of Dominican Convent, Sparkill, New York, died on August 26, 2011 in Siena Hall Infirmary, Sparkill, NY. Born in the Bronx, NY on March 10, 1927, Grace Marie Petraglia was the daughter of Peter and Mary May Petraglia. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1950 and became known as Sister Mary Antoninus, professing her first vows in 1952 and her final vows in 1957.
Serving in the Archdioceses of New York and Newark and in the Diocese of Syracuse, Sister Grace Marie was an elementary school teacher at St. Martin of Tours School, Bronx, NY (1952-57); Holy Family School, Fulton, NY (1957-66); Christ the King School, Yonkers, NY (1978-79). After teaching for one year at St. Augustine School, New City, NY (1971-72), Sr. Grace Marie served as principal there from 1972-1978. She was also principal of Holy Name School, Vahalla, NY (1979-84); St. Matthew School, Hastings, NY (1985-1988); and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Middletown, NY (1989-93). Sister Grace Marie also served as Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Newark (1984-1985), in the Admissions Office of Long Island University, and as secretary to the Executive Team of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill (1994-98). Upon her retirement she offered local community service at Dominican Convent and at St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, NY.
We will remember Sr. Grace Marie for her unwavering commitment to the ministry of Catholic education and her generosity and kindness. We thank her for her sixty-one years of commitment as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill. May she rest in peace and joy in the arms of her loving God.