Sister Catherine M. Crispo, CSJ, 94

Sister Catherine M. Crispo (Sister Miriam Frances), 94, died July 12 at St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for the past 75 years. 

Sister Catherine was born in Troy on Sept. 21, 1924, daughter of the late Salvatore and Mary Daniele Crispo. After attending St. Francis de Sales Grade School and Catholic Central High School, Sister Catherine entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph on Aug. 15, 1944, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1949. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from The College of Saint Rose and a master’s degree in special education from Mt. St. Joseph’s College in Buffalo. 

 Sister Catherine began her life as a Sister of St. Joseph teaching in elementary schools in the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses as well as in St. Joseph’s Infant Home in Troy. In 1967, Sister Catherine began an 18-year career at The College of Saint Rose where she taught special education and served as director of educational media. Following her years at Saint Rose, she was an outreach worker and pastoral associate at Sunnyside Center, Troy; St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart Parishes, Albany; and the Center for Community Collaboration, Albany. Sister Catherine spent many years ministering to Albany’s Vietnamese Community, developing a deep love for the people and their culture.

In 2017, Sister Catherine received the Centennial Medallion from Catholic Charities of The Albany Diocese in recognition of her years of service to the Vietnamese Catholic Community. 

Sister Catherine is survived by her beloved brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Joanne Crispo of Latham; many nieces and nephews and their families; many close cousins and friends; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In addition to her parents, Sister Catherine was predeceased by her siblings: Mary Theresa Crispo, Joseph (Noella) Crispo, Peter (Catherine) Crispo; Theresa (Patrick) Falco, Elizabeth (James) Sisk; S. Frank (Julia) Crispo, and Richard Crispo. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the chapel of the Provincial House on Friday, July 19. Donations in Sister Catherine’s memory may be made to the Development Office, Sisters of St. Joseph, 385 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, NY, 12110.