Sister Dorothy Mintern, S.C., a Sister of Charity of Halifax for 67 years, died Nov. 18 at Mt. St. Vincent, Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Born in Woodside, she graduated from Bishop McDonnell H.S., Brooklyn, in 1936.

She taught grades four and five at Resurrection-Ascension, Rego Park, 1940-50; grade five at St. Sebastian, Woodside, 1950-52; grades five and seven at St. Sylvester’s, City Line, 1954-61; and grade six at Our Lady of Angels, Bay Ridge, 1970-75. She did home visiting in OLA until her retirement in 1999.

Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Needham, Mass.

Sister Dorothy Eileen Maher, 87, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph for 67 years died Nov. 27, in Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood.

She entered the congregation in 1941 from St. Malachy’s parish, East New York.

Her teaching ministry began in Brooklyn in St. Teresa of Avila, 1943-50.  She then continued in St. Brendan Elementary, Midwood, 1950-56, and St. James, 1956-63. She moved to the Rockville Centre Diocese in 1963 where she taught in St. John of God, Central Islip.  As a fifth- and seventh-grade teacher, she continued teaching at St. Clare, Rosedale, 1965-75.  After studying in Queensborough Community College, Flushing, she returned to teaching in St. Ann, Flushing, 1978-92.  From 1992 to 2003, she tutored students in The Mary Louis Academy, Jamaica Estates.  She then retired to Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood.

Interment took place in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.

Sister Myra Paul Mansfield, 87, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph for 69 years, died Nov. 20, in Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood.

She entered the congregation in 1939 from Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish, Sunset Park.

Her teaching assignments were all in the Brooklyn Diocese. They included St. Teresa of Avila, Prospect heights, 1940-41; St. Thomas Aquinas, 1941-42; St. Cecilia, Greenpoint, 1942-45; Immaculate Conception, Jamaica, 1945-48; St. Michael, Flushing, 1948-51; Stella Maris H.S., Rockaway, 1951-54; St. Brendan Diocesan H.S., Midwood, 1954-65; and St. Joseph’s College, Clinton Hill, 1965-2001.  She then became a permanent resident of Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood.

She is survived by her sister, Ruth Mansfield and her brother, Francis Mansfield. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.

Altagracia Perez, the wife of Deacon Richard Perez of St. Sebastian’s parish, Woodside, died Nov. 23.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 27 at the parish church.

Deacon Pedro Ramos, who served at Holy Family parish, 14th St., Park Slope, died Nov. 20.

Ordained March 23, 1985, he ministered at Holy Family until 1994. He then moved to Florida for health reasons.

Several months ago, he moved back to Brooklyn to be with his daughter, Maria Torres.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 26 at Holy Family Church. Burial was in Frederick Douglas Cemetery, Staten Island.

Sister Francis Teresa O’Reilly, C.S.J., 92, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, for 75 years, died Nov. 28, in Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood.

Born in Manhattan and raised as a parishioner of Holy Child Jesus, Richmond Hill, she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in English from St. John’s University, Jamaica. She also did graduate studies at Providence College, Fordham University, and Iona College in Religious Guidance/Pastoral Counseling. Her doctorate in Sacred Doctrine was obtained from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, in 1955.

Her early teaching experience in the Brooklyn Diocese included: St. Benedict Joseph Labre, Richmond Hill, 1935-36; St. Patrick’s, Long Island City, 1938-40; Our Lady of Victory, Bedford-Stuyvesant, 1940-42; St. Francis Xavier Academy, Park Slope, 1942-44; St. Joseph Commercial H.S., Downtown Brooklyn, 1944; Bishop McDonnell H.S., Brooklyn, 1944-49; St. Angela Hall Academy, Clinton Hill, 1949-52; and Fontbonne Hall, Bay Ridge, 1952-54.

After receiving her doctorate in Sacred Doctrine, she was asked by the Congregation to assume the roles as Mistress of Junior Sisters, Mistress of Novices, Assistant General Superior, First Councillor and Regional Superior.

From 1976 to 1986, she utilized her skills

administratively in Catholic Charities in Brooklyn, as Regional Superior in Brentwood, as an English instructor in St. Joseph’s College, Clinton Hill, and as guidance counselor in St. Joseph’s H.S., Downtown Brooklyn.

She is survived by her nephew, Dr. John O’Reilly. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 1 in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood, followed by her interment in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.

Henry J. Hyde, 83, the former Republican congressman from Illinois whose name became synonymous with efforts to limit federal funding of abortion, died Nov. 29 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

He was named a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 in recognition of his longtime fight for life.

In 1976, as a freshman congressman, he introduced and successfully persuaded his colleagues to pass the Hyde amendment to an appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. The amendment restricted the federal government from funding abortions.

Hyde also supported the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and was present in 2003 when Bush signed it into law.
In 1994, he accepted the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Pro Vita Award at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn.

back to top