Obituary of Sr. Barbara Conroy, SC

Sister Barbara Conroy, 91. formerly Sister Agnes Marion, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died May 9, 2024, at Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s, Cedar Grove, NJ.

Sister Barbara was born in Irvington, New Jersey, the daughter of Bartley and Mary (Feyock) Conroy. She entered the Sisters of Charity on October 1, 1950, and was a member for 73 years.

Sister Barbara graduated from the College (University) of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey with a B.A. degree in Spanish and from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana with an M.A. degree in Spanish. She received a Fulbright scholarship to study Spanish in Spain and earned a Certificate in Management from Columbia University’s Institute for Not-for-Profit Management.

Sister Barbara’s many years of service encompassed a variety of ministries. Initially she served in the ministry of education as a teacher and a principal. She was a teacher at Our Lady Help of Christians School, East Orange, NJ and Saint Joseph’s High School, Paterson, NJ. Sister Barbara also served as principal at Saint Joseph’s High School, Paterson, NJ and Saint Vincent’s Academy, Newark, NJ.

Sister Barbara’s leadership skills were also utilized in the ministry of health care. In addition to serving as Coordinator of Family Health Center at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Paterson, NJ, she served as Vice President for Mission Services there. Sister Barbara served as Director of Community Initiatives at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ.

During Sister Barbara’s many years of ministry she served on a number of boards of trustees, including Trinitas Health and Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ, (Chair) the College (University) of Saint Elizabeth (Chair). She also served on the Board of Trustees of Saint Mary’s Hospital, Passaic, NJ and the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, Morris Township, NJ. Sister Barbara was involved in the formation of the Bon Secours Charity Health System in New York State.

Sister Barbara served in Leadership in the Sisters of Charity as General Councilor, Provincial of the Western Province, and General Superior. She also served the Congregation as Director of Sponsorship and Mission Services. Sister Barbara was serving as Assistant to the Director of Property and Building Projects at the time of her death.

Sister Barbara was known as a wise, caring servant leader, committed to the mission of the Sisters of Charity to make God’s love known in the world.

Sister Barbara was predeceased by her parents, her sister Maryrose Grimm, and her brothers Joseph (Joe) and James Richard (Dick) and her nephew, Thomas (Tommy). She is survived by her Sisters of Charity community, many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnieces, and great grandnephews.

The wake for Sister Barbara Conroy will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon at Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, NJ, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at noon. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Stephen J. Priola Funeral Services, Lake Hiawatha, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ, 07961-0476, would be appreciated.