Sister Grace Florian McInerney, OP, 95, a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Amityville, for 77 years, died Feb. 2.

A native of Geenpoint, she attended St. Agnes Academic H.S., College Point. After working a short time in the business world, she entered the congregation from her home parish, St. Joseph, Astoria.

Sister Grace

She taught at Presentation School, Jamaica, 1931-34; and Holy Family, Canarsie, 1934-40. From 1940 to 1967, she taught on the secondary school level at Dominican Commercial, Jamaica; St. Albert H.S., Williamsburg; and St. Agnes H.S., Rockville Centre. She was named principal of St. Frances Cabrini, Bensonhurst, in 1967 and served there until 1973.

She then worked at the Rockville Centre Diocesan Office, 1973-75, and Chaminade H.S., Mineola, 1975-76. She was a member of the faculty at Molloy College, Rockville Centre, 1979-2000, where she taught Latin, English, and French.

She retired in 2000 because of poor health.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Walz of Staten Island. Burial was in Amityville, L.I.

Sister Eileen Harrigan, SC, a member of the Halifax Sisters of Charity for 65 years, died Feb. 5. at Elizabeth Seton Residence, Wellesley Hills, Mass. She was 84.

Born in Brooklyn, her 59-year teaching career included local assignments at Our Lady Help of Christians School, Midwood, where she was principal and superior from 1961 to 1964 and St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, 1974-2004.

She was named an honorary alumna of St. Francis Prep and received a plaque from the National Honor Society as well as being the recipient of the Franciscan Spirit Award from the school.

She is survived by her brother, Joseph Ward Harrigan of Sandwich.

Burial was in Wellesley Hills.

Sister Barbara A. Kaiser, CSJ, 74, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, for 56 years, died Jan. 30 at Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood.

She entered the Congregation in 1951 from St. Christopher parish, Baldwin, L.I., and took the name of Mary Urban.
From 1953 to 1973, she taught the primary grades in St. Matthew, Crown Heights; St. Cecilia, Greenpoint; Holy Family, Flushing; and St. Robert Bellarmine, Bayside; and St. Joachim and St. Philip Neri schools in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

After years in the classroom she undertook the ministry of religious education coordinator in the parishes of St. Vincent de Paul, Elmont, and Our Lady of Victory, Floral Park, both L.I.

Sister Jane Driscoll, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Feb. 7, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Pa.

Sister Jane

She entered the IHM Congregation on Sept. 8, 1936 and made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1939 and her final profession of vows on Aug. 2, 1942.

Her only local teaching assignment was at St. Ephrem School, Dyker Heights, 1939-43.
Burial was in Moscow, Pa.

Thomas Beglane, youngest of seven sons of the late Delia and Patrick Beglane, was buried Friday, Feb. 9 in Calvary Cemetery, Long Island City, following a Mass of the Resurrection at St. Teresa’s Church, Woodside.

He is survived by his brothers, Bernie, The Tablet sports columnist; and Joseph, Patrick and John. He was predeceased by his brothers, Edward and Eugene.

Ellen Lombardi, former bookkeeper at St. Thomas the Apostle parish, Woodhaven, died Feb. 13 after a long battle with cancer. She was 57.

A graduate of St. Alphonsus School, Greenpoint; Mater Christi H.S., Astoria, and Queensborough Community College; she previously worked for the New York State Income Tax Dept.

Immediate survivors include her husband, Kenneth of Howard Beach, and their three children, Kathleen Ocasio, Anne Marie Petrenas, a teacher at St. Mel’s School, Flushing, and Matthew; her brother, Ed Wilkinson, Editor of The Tablet; and her sisters, Mary Paterno of Maspeth, and Rita Wilkinson of Sunnyside.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 16 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church.

Theresa Mendola, a long time parishioner at St. Patrick’s, Bay Ridge, died Feb. 6.

She was the president of the Third Order Lay Camelites group which met at Our Lady of Angels parish, Bay Ridge.

She also was a member of the choir at St. Patrick’s, where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 10 by Msgr. Joseph Nagle, pastor.

Burial was in the Moravian Cemetery on Staten Island.

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