Obituary of Sr. Claire Marita Donnelly

Sister Claire Donnelly, SC (formerly Sister Claire Marita) 83, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth,
died February 19, 2023, at Saint Joseph’s Healthcare, Cedar Grove, NJ.

Sister Claire was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Herbert and Dixie (Lamontagne) Donnelly.  She entered the Sisters of Charity on August 20, 1957 and was a member for 65 years.

Sister Claire graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York with a M.S. degree in Library Science. Sister Claire was an Educator in the State of New Jersey. She served as a teacher at St. Peter School, Jersey City, St. Catherine School, Darlington and St. Paul School, Clifton. She was Vice-Principal in St. Thomas School, Bloomfield and Principal in St. Clare School, Clifton. She was Project Coordinator in St. Mary’s Hospital, Passaic and Medical Resident Coordinator in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Paterson, NJ. She moved to Saint Joseph’s in Cedar Grove in 2018 where she resided until her death. 

Sister Claire was an educator most of her religious life. Her gentle strength and caring patience enriched the lives of students over many decades. Sister Claire’s gifts as an educator extended to adults as a teacher of English as a Second Language and Health Project Coordinator. As a faithful Sister of Charity, she strove to “make God’s love known in the world”.

Sister Claire was predeceased by her mother Dixie LaMontagne Donnelly, her father Herbert Donnelly. She is survived by her Sister of Charity family, her sisters Linda Hesketh, Deborah Poulin, Diane Weaver (Robert), Donna McIntosh (Jay), numerous cousins and friends and her faithful friends Dr. and Mrs. Michael Credico.

The wake for Sister Claire will be held in Holy Family Chapel, 2 Convent Road, Convent Station, NJ from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on MARCH 1, 2023. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. Masks are required in-person.  Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station immediately following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ, 07961-0476.