Obituary of Sr. Dolores Jean Lew, SC

Sister Dolores Lew (84), a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died on July 24, 2026, at Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ.

Sister Dolores was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on November 24, 1941, the daughter of Robert Lew and Nellie Pang Lai. She entered the Sisters of Charity on August 15, 1979, and was a dedicated member for 46 years. Sister Dolores’ decision to enter the Sisters of Charity was in response to a call she felt to serve God’s people in a medical setting.

Sister Dolores began her ministry of service as a Dominican Sister of Caldwell, Caldwell, NJ. She graduated from Caldwell College (University) with a B. S. degree in Biology and from Villanova University, Villanova, PA with an M. S. degree in Biology. Sister Dolores received certification in Medical Technology from the School of Medical Technology at Saint Joseph Hospital, Paterson, NJ, and she received a Blood Bank certificate from the American Red Cross in Baltimore, MD. Sister Dolores’ continued call to serve sick and suffering people led her to study and receive licensing as a Physician’s Assistant. She received her education for this ministry at UMDNJ/Rutgers where she earned a B.S. and M.S. in Physician Assistant. She was
the first Sister of Charity to enter this profession.

Sister Dolores served as a Laboratory Technologist and as Chief of the Blood Bank at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital (Trinitas), Elizabeth, NJ. She was the first Physician Assistant (PA) to join the staff of Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ. Sister Dolores served as a PA in the Emergency Department at Saint Joseph’s for 24 years until her retirement in 2019.

Sister Dolores had a great love for people who were poor and vulnerable, and she was dedicated to their care. She was very generous and had a wonderful sense of humor. Sister Dolores was an excellent cook and enjoyed cooking for family and friends. She loved gardening and sharing the vegetables which grew in her garden. Sister Dolores received the “Best Age Strong Garden” award in the 2024 Greenest Place in Paterson Garden Contest. Although small in stature, Sister Dolores had a big presence in any group. During the final years of her life, Sister Dolores lived with a serious illness; she faced that illness with courage and resolve to live fully each day. She was an inspiration to many.

Sister Dolores was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Shirley Calderone. She is survived by her Sisters of Charity community, her dear friend, Sister Edna Francis Hersinger, her nieces Christine Velarde, Michele Cavallaro and Toni Anne Caracappa, her nephew Joseph Calderone, her brothers Robert, John, David, Peter, and Joseph and her sisters Kammoy King and Joanne Chin, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The wake for Sister Dolores Lew will be held at Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, New Jersey on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM and will be livestreamed. Burial in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station will immediately follow the Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sister Dolores Lew to the Sisters of Charity Office of Legacy and Mission Advancement, P. O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ, 07961, would be appreciated.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of S. J. Priola Funeral Services, Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey.