Sister Patricia Saunders, OP died on April 25, 2019 in Siena Hall in Dominican Convent, Sparkill, NY. She was 81 years old.
Born in New York, NY on April 15, 1938, Patricia was the daughter of Martin and Agnes Travis Saunders. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1962 and received the name Sister Patricia Martin. She professed her first vows in 1964 and her final vows in 1969.
Sister Patricia Saunders received her BA in Social Studies, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 1962; MA in Counseling Education, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 1974.
Sister Patricia taught in the Archdiocese of New York in St. Agnes School and Home, Sparkill, NY (1962-1963); Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Middletown, NY (1966-1969); and St. Christopher School, Red Hook, NY (1973-1975); in the Brooklyn Diocese in Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (1969-1973); and in the Rockville Centre Diocese in Holy Family School, Hicksville, NY (1964-1966 and 1975-1989). From 1989 to 2007, Sister Patricia was Director of Religious Education at St. Anthony Church in Brooksville, FL, and Director of Faith Formation at St. Anne’s Church, Ridge Manor, FL from 2007-2015. Sister Patricia retired and resided in Dominican Convent Siena Hall.
Sister Patricia Saunders is predeceased by her parents Martin and Agnes Travis Saunders. She is survived by her sister, Susan Fray, brother-in-law Edward Fray, niece Denise, nephew Brian, cousins, and friends.
Sister Patricia Saunders was a woman who made difference in the lives of the many students as classroom teacher and in her faith formation ministry. She served her God faithfully for fifty-seven years as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill. We thank God for her life in community and pray for her as she enters the fullness of God’s presence. We will miss her presence among us.