Sister Judith Maender, OP of Dominican Convent, Sparkill, New York, died on August 8, 2015 in Siena Hall, Sparkill, NY.
Born in St. Louis, MO on September 25, 1922, Lorraine was the daughter of Elmer and Mary Ryan Maender. Lorraine entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 1, 1940, and became known as Sister Judith, professing her first vows in 1942 and her final vows in 1947.
Sister Judith earned a BA in English from Webster College in 1954 and a MA in History from St. Louis University in 1969.
During her professional life, Sister Judith ministered in the Archdiocese of St. Louis at St. Patrick, Rolla, MO (1942-43); St. Clare, St. Clair, MO (1943-45); Epiphany, St. Louis, MO (1945-48, 1954-67); Holy Redeemer, St. Louis, MO (1948-52); St. Mark HS, St. Louis, MO (1967-75); Laboure HS, St. Louis, MO (1975-76) and St. Dominic HS, O’Fallon, MO (1976-89). She taught in the Syracuse Diocese at St. Paul, Norwich, NY (1952-53) and Holy Family, Fulton, NY (1953-54). In 1989 Sister Judith made the decision to engage in Native American ministry at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Havre, MT. She worked there for seventeen years before retiring in 2006. Upon returning to St. Louis, Sr. Judith found time to volunteer her services at DePaul Hospital. She became a resident in Siena Hall, Sparkill, NY in 2012.
Sister Judith is predeceased by her parents Elmer and Mary Maender; her sisters Dorothy Dauer and Helen Kussman; and her brother Patrick Maender. She is survived by her sister Jane Devereux of St. Louis, MO. She will be missed by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
We remember Sister Judith for her great kindness to all and her boundless energy which she used so well in serving the people of God. She was a gentle woman who was faithful to the God she loved and to the life she chose as a Dominican Sister.
We are grateful for her seventy-five years in the congregation and we thank God for her life of 92 years. May the Lord give her everlasting peace in the kingdom of heaven.