Obituary of Sr. Amelia Lamendola

Sister Amelia Lamendola, (88), formerly Sister Maria Cordis, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died June 2, 2026, at Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s, Cedar Grove, NJ. Sister Amelia was born in Jersey City, NJ, the daughter of John and Jennie (Raimondi) Lamendola. She entered the Sisters of Charity on August 20, 1957, and was a dedicated member for 68 years.

Sister Amelia received a BS degree in Elementary Education from the College of Saint Elizabeth (now University) Morristown, NJ. She also received an MA in Guidance from Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT.

Sister Amelia served in the ministries of education and social services in New Jersey. She was an elementary school teacher at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament School, East Orange, Sacred Heart School, Vailsburg, and St. Clare School, Clifton. Sister Amelia was a guidance counselor at St. James School, Newark, St. Michael’s School, Newark, and St. Aloysious High School, Jersey City. She served as Director of Guidance at Sacred Heart Academy, Hoboken and as Religious Studies Teacher at Lacordaire Academy, Montclair and Sacred Heart Academy, Hoboken.

Sister Amelia’s commitment to care for young people and adults who are vulnerable and marginalized led her to ministries which were focused on alleviating suffering and distress. She served as Residential Counselor at Triad House, Ewing, NJ and as Program Director and as both Assistant Director and Acting Director of the House of Faith, Jersey City. The ministry of the House of Faith was to provide outreach and support services to people who do not have homes. Sister Amelia advocated on the State and local levels for affordable, safe housing for those most in need. She lived the Charism of Charity, to make God’s love known in the world. During her final illness Sister Amelia could often be heard humming and singing, most notably the Prayer of Saint Francis which calls us to be bearers of peace to the world. Sister Amelia loved her family and maintained long standing friendships.

Sister Amelia was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Virginia Sansevere, her brother Phillip and nephew Charles Sansevere. She is survived by her Sister of Charity community, loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and a great grandniece and great grandnephew.

The wake for Sister Amelia Lamendola will be held on Monday, June 8, 2026, at Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, NJ from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM and will be livestreamed. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station, NJ. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of S. J. Priola Funeral Services, Lake Hiawatha, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sister Amelia Lamendola to the Sisters of Charity Office of Legacy and Mission Advancement, P. O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ, 07961-0476, would be appreciated.