Sister Sandra Magnini, OP, of Dominican Convent, Sparkill, New York, died on October 23, 2011 in Siena Hall Infirmary, Sparkill, NY. Born in Florence, Italy, on November 8, 1919, Alexandra Magnini was the daughter of Giuseppe Tullio and Teresa Alice Bassani Magnini. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on February 2, 1942 and became known as Sister Mary Anthony, professing her first vows in 1943 and her final vows in 1948.
Sister Sandra earned a BA in French from Manhattan College, NY and a MA in Home Economics from Teachers College, Columbia
University, NY. During her professional life, Sister Sandra was a teacher in elementary and high school. She served in the Archdioceses of New York and St. Louis, and in the Diocese of Syracuse at St. James School, St. Louis, MO (1943-46); St. Mary School, Fulton, NY (1946-50); St. Catherine of Siena School, New York, NY (1950-54); St. Columba School, Chester, NY (1954-60); St. Helena/Monsignor Scanlan High School, Bronx, NY (1960-72); Albertus Magnus High School, Bardonia, NY (1972-78 &1996-2002). From 1979-1983 Sister Sandra worked in Botswana, Africa as a member of the Peace Corps and then remained working for the Catholic Missions teaching sewing skills to the women in the village of Muan, Africa until 1988. Upon her
return from Africa she was a staff member at Villa St. Joseph in Saugerties, NY and then taught in St. Michael’s, AZ from 1990-1994. From 1995-96 she taught English to children in Vilnius, Lithuania. Upon her retirement she continued to remain active until she became a resident in Siena Hall Infirmary in 2007. We will remember Sister Sandra for her indomitable spirit and her faith in God. This spirit and her deep and abiding belief in the presence of God in her life was evident when she left her native Italy, came to a new country, entered our community, studied, taught, joined the Peace Corp and later volunteered to teach in eastern Europe. We thank her for the sixty-nine years she spent among us; we have been blessed by this unique woman and know she is now is the real presence of God in whom she believed so deeply.